A milestone-driven Space Race chronology covering the United States and Soviet Union from the first satellites through human orbital flight, lunar exploration, and the first joint US-Soviet mission.
The Soviet Union places the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit.
The Soviet Union launches the first animal into orbit, though the mission is not designed for recovery.
The United States launches its first satellite and discovers the Van Allen radiation belts.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is created to coordinate the US civilian space program.
The Soviet probe becomes the first human-made object to reach the lunar surface.
The Soviet mission returns the first images of the Moon’s far side.
Gagarin becomes the first human in space and the first to complete an orbital flight.
Shepard becomes the first American in space on a suborbital Mercury mission.
President John F. Kennedy commits the United States to landing a human on the Moon and returning them safely.
Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov completes the first extravehicular activity.
Two crewed spacecraft perform a controlled rendezvous in orbit, advancing the techniques needed for Apollo.
The Soviet probe makes the first controlled soft landing on the lunar surface.
A ground-test fire kills three astronauts and leads to major redesigns and safety changes.
The first humans travel to lunar orbit and see Earth rise above the Moon.
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the Moon.
Apollo 12 demonstrates a more precise lunar landing and expands surface science.
After an oxygen-tank explosion, the crew returns safely using improvised procedures and mission-control teamwork.
The Soviet Union launches the first space station.
Apollo 15 uses the lunar roving vehicle to explore farther from the landing site.
Apollo 17 becomes the final crewed Moon landing of the 20th century.
American and Soviet spacecraft dock in orbit, symbolizing cooperation after the main Space Race.