-
The space race begins. Soviets launch Sputnik.
-
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is born.
-
NASA’s first group of astronauts chosen. They became known as the Mercury Seven.
-
NASA launches first primate into space, Ham the chimpanzee.
-
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.
-
Astronaut Alan Shepard made history as the first American in space with a suborbital flight aboard his Mercury spacecraft, Freedom 7.
-
John Glenn became first American to orbit the Earth.
-
Soviets launch the first woman in space Valentina Tereshkova.
-
On NASA’s first moon mission Ed White was the first American to walk in space.
-
American Astronaut Neil Armstrong took man’s first steps on the moon.
-
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
-
Guy Bluford became the first African American in space.
-
Shannon Lucid made history as having the longest stay in space (188 days).