-
soviet union starts the space race
The launch of Sputnik was part of a series of Soviet technological successes. At 184 pounds, the Soviet satellite was much heavier than anything the United States was developing at the time. Soon afterward, the Soviet Union launched two more satellites. One carried a dog into space. Together, these orbited Earth every 90 minutes. They created fear that the United States lagged far behind in technology. These concerns grew when the Soviet Union tested a long-distance missile that same year. -
sputnik 1
Sputnik: First Man-made Satellite
The world's first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Russians.
This event drew the U.S. full throttle into the space race.
Launched by the Soviet Union October 4, 1957
Had 4 external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. -
sputnik 2
Launched by the Soviet Union
Sputnik 2 was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, on November 3, 1957
First spacecraft to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika, who died a few hours after the launch. -
us satellite
At last, on January 31, 1958, the United States succeeded in launching its first satellite, the Explorer. The Explorer was smaller than Sputnik. -
john f kennedy
When John F. Kennedy became president in 1961, the United Space fell further behind. The Soviets had already placed a dog in space. Now in Kennedy’s first year on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to orbit the Earth. -
man in orbit success from the us
Kennedy challenged the American people and government to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. While Kennedy was president, Alan Shepard became the first American to enter space (1961). Then in 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. -
man on the moon success from the us
In 1969, many thought of President Kennedy’s challenge when Neil Armstrong became the first human being to set foot on the moon.His famous quote is, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”