-
Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union sent the first satellite into Space called "Sputnik 1" and proved that they could send warheads into Space. This also began the Space Race. www.TheSpaceRace.com -
Laika the Dog
The Soviet Union launched "Sputnik 2" with a dog on board named "Laika" and was the first dog to orbit the Earth. This is important because It helped the Soviet Union explain microgravity and many different biological functions. www.TheSpaceRace.com www.space.com -
Explorer 1
In 1958, America created their first satellite called "Explorer 1" and this proved that America was confident and ready to fight back in the "Space Race". www.TheSpaceRace.com www.space.com -
NASA
In 1958, America created a new Space Government called "NASA" for "National Aeronautics and Space Administration", this meant that America would start sending much more different things into Space to help in the "Space Race". "NASA also replaced "NACA" or "National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. www.TheSpaceRace.com www.NASA.com -
Luna 3
The Soviet Union created "Luna 3" with a camera which was used to photograph 70% of the moon, even though the picture quality wasn't the greatest, it helped the Soveit Union learn more about the moon. www.TheSpaceRace.com www.zarya.info -
First Person in Space
On this day, a person from the Soviet Union named "Yuri Gagarin" was the first person in Space and the first person to orbit Earth, this was vey important because it helped the Soviet Union learn about the planet we lived on and what it looked like.
www.TheSpaceRace.com -
First American in Space
Less than a month after the very first person in Space, the first American went to Space named "Alan Shepard". He was one of the Mercury Seven Atronauts that went to Space but did not orbit anything. This let him experience and learn more about Space.
www.bing.com www.TheSpaceRace.com -
The Apollo Program
In 1961, NASA created the "Apollo Program" or was considered the name for NASA to send astronauts to Space to learn and explore.
www.TheSpaceRace.com -
First American to Orbit Earth
John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth, and this was important because he learned about our planet and what it looked like, it was also important for NASA to also learn more about Earth. www.TheSpaceRace.com -
First Person on Moon
The first person on the moon is "Neil Armstrong" and he was also an American! This was important because America got to the Moon before the Soviet Union and that means that is a point for America in the Space Race, this also showed Neil and NASA more infomation about the Moon. www.TheSpaceRace.com