2. The Race to Space 1950’s 1957: The USSR launched Sputnik 1 1957: 1st living creature (Laika the dog) in space on Sputnik 2
3. The Race to Space 1950’s 1958: The US launched Explorer 1 1958: NASA was born 1958: NASA launched Pioneer 1
4. The Race to Space 1960’s April 1961: USSR launched the first human in space on Vostok 1 May 1961: US launched its first manned spacecraft on Freedom 7 May 1961: President Kennedy commits to landing a man on the moon.
5. The Race to Space 1960’s August 1962: USSR launched 2 dual-piloted fights. June 1963: USSR launched the first woman in space in Vostok 6 October 1964: USSR launched the 1st multi-person spacecraft on Voskhod 1
6. The Race to Space 1960’s March 1965: USSR launched the Voskhod 2 and achieved the 1st space walk November 1966: US launched Gemini 12 during which “Buzz” Aldrin worked for 5 hours outside the spacecraft. January 1967: USApollo 1 crew died during a ground test.
7. The Race to Space 1960’s December 1968: US Apollo 8 -1st manned Spacecraft to orbit the moon -It was televised on Christmas Eve one of the most watched broadcasts in history -NASA’s 1st dawn splashdown and recovery.
8. The Race to Space 1960’s July 1969: USApollo 11 US lands on the moon. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” -Neil Armstrong
9. End of Space Race 1970’s April 1970: US Apollo 13 Crisis. Many called this NASA’s finest hour Summer of 1971: US Apollo scientific Missions kick in. December 1972: USApollo 17- last Apollo lunar mission
10. End of Space Race 1970’s 1973: 10 European nations formed the European Space Agency June 1974: USSR launched a series of Almaz space stations for military reconnaissance
11. End of Space Race 1970’s July 1975: US and USSR staged a dual mission called the Apollo-Soyuz test project. Throughout the 70’s China and India launched satellites
12. End of Space Race 1970’s 1970 to 1977- The US and USSR launch robotic missions to explore the planets. 1973 to 1979- Space marathons between The US and the USSR to see who Could stay in space the longest.
13. A New Era Begins 1980’s April 1981: The US launched the 1st Re-usable spacecraft called the Space Shuttle Columbia February 1984: The US does a space walk using jetpacks to fix a satellite in space.
14. A New Era Begins 1980’s January 1986: The US launches the space shuttle Challenger which exploded 73 seconds after take off. February 1986: The USSR launched the 1st modular space station called Mir.
15. A New Era Begins 1980’s December 1987: The USSR did the 1st year long space flight on Mir Space Station. 1988 to 1989: NASA the ESA, Canada and Japan worked together to create a permanent space station.
16. Living in Space 1990’s 1994: Clementine- the 1st US lunar mission since the Apollo program. Discovered water on the moon. March 1995: USSR sets the world space endurance record of 14 months Jun 1995: US Space Shuttle Discovery docks at the Mir Space Station.
17. Living in Space 1990’s July 1997: NASA’s Pathfinder landed on the surface of Mars. December 1998: US and Russia make the 1st visit to the International Space Station. Summer 1999: The Mir Space Station was Abandoned after 13 years of operations.
18. Space Exploration 2000’s November 2000: The Expedition One crew First to stay at the ISS. March 2001: The Mir Space Station crashes to earth. April 2001: First Space tourist launches.
19. Space Exploration 2000’s March 2002: Columbia makes 4th visit to Hubble Space Telescope February 2003: Columbia disaster. October 2003: China sends 1st man into space. December 2003: The Mars Space probe Disappears.
20. Space Exploration 2000’s July 2005: Eileen Collins commands the 1st Shuttle flight after the Columbia disaster. August 2007: Endeavour takes the first teacher to space.
21. Space Exploration 2000’s March 2008: Every international partner has now contributed a major part to the ISS 2008: 1st Chinese taikonaut walked in space.
22. Space Exploration 2000’s November 2010: Last shuttle flight was scheduled but was re-scheduled for February 2011. 2020: USA plans to re-turn to the moon.
