Space Race. dmcdn.net.
The Space Race
Timeline
Sputnik I Satellite, 1957, razorrobotics.com.
Sputnik I First Satellite In Orbit
Sputnik 1 is the first artificial satellite launched on October 4, 1957 and sent back the first signals from space, marking the beginning of the space race.
NASA logo, NASA.
NASA Created in 1958
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is responsible for all aspects of space: technology, space science, exploration and development, Earth science and biological and physical research. NASA designed the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo projects.
Yuri Gagarin and Vostok I, 1961, writescience.com.
Yuri Gagarin First Human In Space
Launched on April 12, 1961, Gagarin was the first human in space and first human to orbit the Earth aboard the Vostok 1.
Alan Shepard and Freedom 7, 1961, howstuffworks.com.
Mercury Program Puts First Americans In Space
On May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard flew in a Redstone rocket named Freedom 7, becoming the first American in space. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on February 20, 1962 in his ship, the Friendship 7.
Voskhod 1 crew, 1964, svengrahn.com.
Voskhod Program Uses Multi-person Spacecraft
Vladimir Komarov, Konstantin Feoktistov and Boris Yegorov became the first cosmonauts to orbit the Earth in a multi-person spacecraft on October 12, 1964 on Voskhod 1. On March 18, 1965, Alexei Leonev performed the first spacewalk on the Voskhod 2 mission.
Gemini 3 in Earth orbit, 1965, NASA.
Gemini Launches Two-Person Crew Missions
The Gemini program was designed to bridge the knowledge gap between the Mercury and Apollo programs. Goals included longer space flights, spacewalks, computer-controlled reentry and rendezvous with another vehicle in space. Gemini 3 was the first American multi-person spacecraft to orbit Earth and Gemini 4 included the first American spacewalk, both in 1965.
Apollo 11 on the launchpad, 1969, NASA.
Apollo Program Successfully Lands on the Moon
The Apollo program started with the tragic deaths of Roger Chaffee, Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Ed White in a cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27, 1967. Apollo 8 was launched December 21, 1968 and became the first manned mission to orbit the moon. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission returned to the moon and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin successfully landed on the lunar surface.