Space Race

The beginning (Sputnik 1)

Sep 4, 1957

The Soviets achieved the feat with Sputnik 1 of launching an artificial satellite, the first in history to reach Earth's orbit, which would lead to the beginning of what became known as the Space Race, which in the context of the Cold War It can be understood as the arms race in which the Americans and the Soviets disputed the strategic control of outer space.

Laika, the astronaut dog (URRS)

Nov 3, 1957

The dog Laika became the first animal to travel to space aboard Sputnik 2. A week after launch the dog died due to lack of oxygen.

The first solar-powered satellite (USA)

May 17, 1958

NASA launched Vanguard 1 into orbit, the first solar-powered satellite and a major victory for the United States in the space race. Today it is still the oldest artificial satellite in space and it is estimated that it will continue in orbit for around 240 more years.

The First Telecommunications Satelite (USA)

Dec 18, 1958

NASA scored its first real goal during the Space Race by launching the first telecommunications satellite into orbit: SCORE. The satellite was launched on the Atlas B type missile

Moon 2 (URSS)

Jul 14, 1959

The USSR's Luna 2 became the first terrestrial object to impact the Moon.

The first image of the far side of the Moon (URSS)

Oct 7, 1959

The Soviet satellite Luna 3 took the first images of the far side of the Moon.

Ham the chimpanzee (USA)

Jan 31, 1961

Ham the chimpanzee became the first hominid to travel into space. Her flight lasted 16 minutes and 39 seconds after which she was rescued in the Atlantic Ocean with only a bruised nose.

The first man in space (URSS)

Apr 12, 1961

Aboard Vostok 1, Yuri Alekséyevich Gagarin became the first human to travel to outer space.

The first woman in space (URRS)

Jun 16, 1963

Aboard the Vostok 6, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space on a mission that would last for 3 days and during which she completed 48 laps around the Earth.

The first space walk (URSS)

Mar 18, 1965

Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov, who was traveling aboard Voskhod 2, became the first human to perform a spacewalk by staying outside the ship he shared with cosmonaut Pavel Belyayev for 12 minutes.

Apollo 8 and the far side of the Moon (USA)

Dec 21, 1968

The first manned spaceflight around the Moon took place. It is also the first human spaceflight to enter the gravitational influence of another celestial body. His crew was the first in history to see the far side of the Moon, as well as the first to observe the Earth from our satellite.

The arrival of man on the moon (USA)

Jul 20, 1969

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two men to land on the Moon aboard the Lunar Eagle module of the Apollo 11 mission.

Pioneer 10 (USA)

Dec 3, 1973

NASA's Pioneer 10 became the first space probe to reach Jupiter's orbit.

The first trip to Mercury (USA)

Mar 29, 1974

NASA's Mariner 10 probe became the first to fly over the planet Mercury.

The end of the Cold War (USA and URSS)

Jul 15, 1975

The Soyuz and Apollo 18 spacecraft docked in Earth orbit. It was the first joint mission of the space agencies of both countries. Historians agree that this event ended the Cold War.