The Space Race

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the United States when it was sent into space on January 31, 1958. It was developed under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun. The primary science instrument on Explorer 1 was a cosmic ray detector designed to measure the radiation environment in Earth's orbit. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/explorer-overview.html

John Glenn

Jul 18, 1959

In 1959, NASA picked the first group of astronauts. The seven men would fly on the Mercury spacecraft. NASA called these men the “Mercury Seven.” John Glenn was one of them.
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-is-john-glenn-k4.html

Alan Shepard (First American in Space)

Nov 18, 1959

Alan Shepard was born on Nov. 18, 1923. He worked on a ship during World War II. After the war, Shepard went back to school. He became a test pilot. Test pilots try out new aircraft. The pilots make sure the airplanes are safe. In April 1959, Shepard became an astronaut. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-was-alan-shepard-k4.html

Ham the Astrochimp

Jan 28, 1961

Species: Pan Troglodytes
Date: 1957-1983
Claim to fame: First primate in space
https://www.theguardian.com/science/animal-magic/2013/dec/16/ham-chimpanzee-hero-or-victim

Yuri Gagarin (First Russian in Space)

Apr 12, 1961

April 12 was already a huge day in space history twenty years before the launch of the first shuttle mission. On that day in 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left, on the way to the launch pad) became the first human in space, making a 108-minute orbital flight in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/sts1/gagarin_anniversary.html

Gemini 1

Apr 8, 1964

Gemini 1 was the first unmanned test flight of the Gemini spacecraft in NASA's Gemini program. Its main objectives were to test the structural integrity of the new spacecraft and modified Titan II launch vehicle. It was also the first test of the new tracking and communication systems for the Gemini program and provided training for the ground support crews for the first manned missions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_1

Gemini 3

Mar 23, 1965

On March 23, 1965, astronauts Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and John W. Young participated in the first crewed Gemini flight, Gemini III. Gemini 3 was the first manned mission in NASA's Gemini program, the second American manned space program. On March 23, 1965, astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young flew three low Earth orbits in their spacecraft, which they nicknamed Molly Brown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_3

Apollo 1

Jan 27, 1967

Jan. 27, 1967, tragedy struck on the launch pad at Cape Kennedy during a preflight test for Apollo 204 (AS-204). The mission was to be the first crewed flight of Apollo, and was scheduled to launch Feb. 21, 1967. Astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee lost their lives when a fire swept through the command module, or CM.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo1.html

Apollo 11

Jul 16, 1968

The primary objective of Apollo 11 was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth. Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo11.html

Apollo 8

Dec 21, 1968

The mission objectives for Apollo 8 included a coordinated performance of the crew, the command and service module, or CSM, and the support facilities. The mission also was to demonstrate translunar injection; CSM navigation, communications and midcourse corrections; consumable assessment; and passive thermal control.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8

Lunokhod 1

Nov 17, 1970

An amazing spacecraft gently settled to the lunar surface on 17 November 1970. It carried the first successful robotic lunar rover -- Lunokhod 1. For the next ten months the rover was driven by operators in the Soviet Union, with the total distance traveled exceeding 10 km. For comparison, in six years of operation the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has traveled about 12 km.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/multimedia/lroimages/lroc-20100318.html