SpaceRace

On October 5, 1957 the Soviet Union launches Sputnit 1 into Earth's orbit. The first man-made satellite passes overhead, making one revolution every 90 minutes. Following the launch of Sputnik, President Dwight Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 into law, establishing NASA. The American program had been delayed in part because Eisenhower insisted that the space program should be a non-military operation, and that it should not reconfigure defense missiles for space exploration. Luna 1 launches from the Soviet Union towards the moon but misses its target. Soviet lunar probes had been launched in 1958 but not announced to the public or acknowledged. This set a pattern for the Soviet space program: missions were not announced until they could be hailed as successes. April 9, 1959 the newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration introduces the first seven astronauts to the world. Without yet performing a task, they are instantly hailed and embraced as heroes by the American public. May 2,1961 Alan Shepard commands Freedom 7 on the first Mercury mission, becoming the first American in space. His ballistic trajectory during the 15-minute flight takes him to a maximum height of 116.5 statute miles. NASA announces, "The astronaut reports that he is A-OK," introducing a new phrase into the American lexicon. May 25, 1961 President John F. Kennedy, in his first State of the Union address, accelerates the space program and sets as a goal a moon landing within the decade. Feb 20, 1962 John Glenn orbits the Earth three times, becoming the first American in orbit. Hailed as a hero, he will later leave the space program to enter politics. Eventually he will be elected to the U.S. Senate from Ohio. July 16, 1969 Apollo 11 begins its mission to the moon. Jul 20, 1969 Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first men to walk on the moon. They then rendezvous with Michael Collins in the command module for the return to Earth. Posted By: Katie Hinkle

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[|First Steps On The Moon!]