It all started on October 4 of 1957, when a Russian Satellite named Sputnik was launched into orbit about Earth. All around the world, people watch in amazement as Earth took its first step into space.
Later in November of that same year, Russia took another step, this time sending the first living animal into outer space. The animal onboard the space satellite Sputnik II or ‘2’ was a female Russian dog named ‘Laika’. Sadly, a few hours after take-off, Laika passed away from a mix of over-heating and panic. Sputnik II burned up over Barbados five months later.
Between 1957 and 1961, 13 Russians dogs were sent into space, five of which had died.
May 28 of 1959
The United States sent their own animals into space, this time using a pair of monkeys named Able and Baker. Able and Baker were the first living creatures to be recovered after a trip into space.
April 12 of 1961
The Soviets have beaten the United States in the race to land on the moon. At 11:00 AM, Major Yuri Alexeyevich was launched from Kazakhstan in the space craft ‘Vostok (East)’ Vostok orbited Earth for over an hour and a half before landing.
The U.S.A sent a man into space later that same year.
Commander Alan Shepard was launched from Cape Canaveral in a capsule attached to a Redstone rocket. He went 115 miles into space before landing in the Atlantic Ocean 15 minutes later.
March 24 of 1965
Millions of people watched as the Kamikaze space probe Ranger 9 moon lander crashed into while taking & transmitting pictures. A hidden but known fact was that the Ranger 9 moon lander had for a short time put the United States ahead in the space race against the Soviet Union.
December 24 of 1968
The crew of Apollo 8 has orbited the Moon.
Apollo 8 spent 20 hours around the Moon before landing back on earth. That same year, Apollo 11 and its crew were the men to walk on the moon.