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Sputnik 1
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.
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
The first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a dog named Laika, who Soviet publications claimed that the dog died, painlessly, after a week in Earth orbit due to cabin overheat. -
The Explorer
At last, the United States succeeded in launching its first satellite, the Explorer. The Explorer was smaller than Sputnik. -
Vostok 1
Aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin becomes the first human being to travel into space. During the flight, the 27-year-old test pilot and industrial technician also became the first man to orbit the planet, a feat accomplished by his space capsule in 89 minutes. -
John F. Kennedy Moon Speech
John F. Kennedy makes a speech to tell Americans to get their head in the game and start making things to get ahead in the space race. Kennedy challenged the American people and government to put a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.
