The Space Age began in 1957 with the Soviet Union launching Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. The USSR then launched Sputnik 2 carrying Laika, the first animal in space. In 1959, the Soviet Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to reach the surface of the moon. Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union became the first person in space in 1961. Valentina Tereshkova of Russia was the first woman in space in 1963. Alexei Leonov of Russia conducted the first spacewalk in 1965. In 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first people to walk on the moon as part of the American Apollo 11 mission.