Start
End
Oct 4, 1957
Sputnik 1 Launch
MilestoneFirst
Apr 12, 1961
Yuri Gagarin's Orbital Flight
MilestoneCrewedFirst
Sep 12, 1962
JFK's Moon Challenge
Milestone
President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous "We choose to go to the Moon" speech at Rice University, setting a national goal for a crewed lunar landing before the end of the decade.
Mar 18, 1965
First Spacewalk
FirstCrewed
Jul 20, 1969
Apollo 11: Moon Landing
MilestoneCrewedFirstNASA
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on the Moon's Sea of Tranquility, while Michael Collins orbited above in the Command Module.
Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface, famously saying: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Key achievements:
- First humans to walk on the Moon
- Collected 21.5 kg of lunar material
- Deployed scientific instruments on the surface
- Planted the American flag
Early Space AgeMoon MissionsStations & ShuttlesModern Exploration
19571974199020062022
History of Space Exploration
Early Space Age
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