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The Space Race

By Bloom
  • Period: to

    Important Events of Space Race

  • USSR launches Sputnik 1.

    USSR launches Sputnik 1.

  • USSR launches Sputnik 2 which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.

    USSR launches Sputnik 2 which carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.

    It carried a small dog named Laika into orbit.
  • Explorer 1, the first American satellite to reach orbit, is launched.

    Explorer 1, the first American satellite to reach orbit, is launched.

    It carried scientific equipment that lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt.
    US
  • Explorer 2 is launced but it fails to reach orbit.

    Explorer 2 is launced but it fails to reach orbit.

    US
  • The Vanguard 1 satellite is launched. It continues to function for 3 years.

    The Vanguard 1 satellite is launched. It continues to function for 3 years.

    US
  • Sputnik 3 is launched.

    Sputnik 3 is launched.

  • Sep. 12 - President Kennedy gives a speech at Rice University reaffirming the importance of the Moon program.

  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed.

  • Pioneer 1 is launched to a height of 70,700 miles.

    Pioneer 1 is launched to a height of 70,700 miles.

  • Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders begin the first manned journey from the Earth to the Moon.

    US
  • Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun.

    Luna 1 is launched by the USSR. It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun.

    It is the first man made object to orbit the Sun.
  • Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. Mar. 3 - Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit.

    Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. Mar. 3 - Pioneer 4 is launched on a Earth-Moon trajectory. It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit.

    It passed within 37,000 miles of the Moon before falling into a solar orbit.
  • The "Mercury Seven" astronauts are selected by NASA.

    The "Mercury Seven" astronauts are selected by NASA.

  • Luna 2 is launched. It impacts the Moon on September 13.

  • Luna 3 orbits the Moon and photographs 70% of its surface.

  • Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched.

    Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched.

  • The US launches Discoverer XIV, its first camera equipped spy satellite.

  • John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States.

    John F. Kennedy is elected the 35th President of the United States.

  • Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once and becomes the first man in space.

  • Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space.

    Alan B. Shepard becomes the first American in space.

  • President John F. Kennedy addresses Congress and challenges the nation to go to the Moon before the end of the decade.

  • Gus Grissom is launched on a sub-orbital flight.

    Gus Grissom is launched on a sub-orbital flight.

  • NASA announces the Gemini Program.

    NASA announces the Gemini Program.

  • John Glenn orbits the Earth three times.

  • Scott Carpenter repeats John Glenn's flight aboard "Aurora 7".

    Scott Carpenter repeats John Glenn's flight aboard "Aurora 7".

  • President Kennedy gives a speech at Rice University reaffirming the importance of the Moon program.

  • Walter Schirra orbits the Earth six times.

  • Mariner 2 flies past Venus and enters a solar orbit.

  • L. Gordon Cooper spends 34 hours in space. He is the last American to fly in space alone.

    L. Gordon Cooper spends 34 hours in space. He is the last American to fly in space alone.

    He is the last American to fly in space alone.
  • Cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

    Cosmonaut Valentia Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

  • Ranger 7 transmits the first close range images of the Moon.

    Ranger 7 transmits the first close range images of the Moon.

  • A third group of NASA astronauts is selected.

  • President Kennedy is assassinated.

  • Ranger 7 transmits the first close range images of the Moon.

    Ranger 7 transmits the first close range images of the Moon.

  • Astronaut Theodore Freeman dies in a plane crash

    Astronaut Theodore Freeman dies in a plane crash

  • Alexei Leonov performs the first spacewalk on the moon.

    Alexei Leonov performs the first spacewalk on the moon.

  • Gus Grissom and John Young fly the first manned Gemini spacecraft.

    Gus Grissom and John Young fly the first manned Gemini spacecraft.

  • Ed White performs America's first spacewalk.

    Ed White performs America's first spacewalk.

  • Mariner 4 returns close ranger images of Mars.

    Mariner 4 returns close ranger images of Mars.

  • Venus 3 is launched.

    Venus 3 is launched.

    It becomes the first man made object to impact Venus on March 1, 1966.

  • Frank Borman and James Lovell begin a two week stay in Earth orbit aboard Gemini 7.

  • Dec. 15 - Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, in their Gemini 6 spacecraft, make the first space rendezvous with Gemini 7.

    Dec. 15 - Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, in their Gemini 6 spacecraft, make the first space rendezvous with Gemini 7.

  • Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.

    Luna 9 becomes the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon.

  • Astronauts Charles Bassett and Elliott See die when their plane crashes in bad weather.

  • Apr. 3 - Luna 10 becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon.

    Apr. 3 - Luna 10 becomes the first satellite to orbit the Moon.

  • Surveyor 1 soft-lands on the Moon.

    Surveyor 1 soft-lands on the Moon.

  • Lunar Orbiter 1 enters orbit around the Moon and takes the first picture of the Earth from that distance.

  • Gemini 12, the last flight of the Gemini Program, launches with James Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin aboard.

    Gemini 12, the last flight of the Gemini Program, launches with James Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin aboard.

    launches with James Lovell and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin aboard.
    US
  • Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed

    Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee are killed

    when a fire ignites in their Apollo 1 capsule while performing a test on the launch pad.

    US
  • Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, dies in a plane crash.

    Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, dies in a plane crash.

    USSR
  • Jun. 6 - Astronaut Edward Givens is killed

    Jun. 6 - Astronaut Edward Givens is killed

    In an automobile accident.
    US
  • Astronaut Clifton Williams is killed in a plane crash.

    Astronaut Clifton Williams is killed in a plane crash.

    US
  • Venera 4 transmits data about the atmosphere of Venus.

    Venera 4 transmits data about the atmosphere of Venus.

    USSR
  • Apr. 24 - Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov is killed

    Apr. 24 - Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov is killed

    when the parachutes of his Soyuz 1 capsule fail to open properly following re-entry.
    USSR
  • Zond 5 is launched

    Zond 5 is launched

    It carried a biological payload (including two turtles) around the Moon and returned to Earth six days later.
    USSR

  • The crew of Apollo 7 begin a 10 day mission to study the new spacecraft.

    US
  • Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders begin the first manned journey from the Earth to the Moon.

    Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders begin the first manned journey from the Earth to the Moon.

    US
  • Soyuz 4 & 5 perform the first Soviet spacecraft docking

    Soyuz 4 & 5 perform the first Soviet spacecraft docking

    USSR
  • Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin

    Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin

    They become the first men to walk on the Moon while crewmate Michael Collins orbits around the Moon alone.
    US
  • Pete Conrad and Alan Bean perform the first precision lunar landing, touching down just 600 feet from the Surveyor 3 probe that arrived two years earlier.

    Pete Conrad and Alan Bean perform the first precision lunar landing, touching down just 600 feet from the Surveyor 3 probe that arrived two years earlier.

    Touching down just 600 feet from the Surveyor 3 probe that arrived two years earlier.
    US