The Space Race
Soviet union vs. United states
What is "The space race"
It was a competition between Soviet russia and the United States to master space exploration, and its achievements.
John F. Kennedy Moon Speech (1962)
October & November 1957
The USSR launches Sputnik 1 into orbit, the same year they launched sputnik 2 into orbit with a small dog named Laika.
Sputnik 2
The second satellite to be sent into orbit along with a small dog named Laika.
Laika
The first animal sent into orbit.
Sputnik 1
The first satellite sent into orbit.
January - October 1958
- Explorer 1 is the first american satellite sent into orbit with equipment that helped find the Van Allen Radiation belt.
- Explorer 2 failed to reach orbit
- Vanguard 1 reaches orbit and continued to function for 3 years
- USSR launches sputnik 3 into orbit
- NASA is formed and replaces NACA
The Vanguard 1
The second successful satellite launched into orbit.
Sputnik 3
Third satellite launched into orbit by the Soviet union.
Explorer 1
The first satellite launched into orbit successfully by the United States.
January - October 1959
- Luna 1 launched by the USSR is the first mad-made object to successfully orbit the sun.
- Pioneer 4 is launched by the U.S on a earth-to-moon trajectory and passes within 37,000 miles before falling into solar orbit.
- "mercury seven" astronauts are picked by NASA
- Luna 2 launched and impacted the moon, making it the first man-made object to do so.
- Luna 3 orbits the moon and takes photos of 70% of its surface
Luna 3
First to orbit the moon and take photos of 70% of its surface.
Luna 1
First man-made object to orbit the sun.
Luna 2
First satellite to crash into the moon