People in Space

The first satellite in space, launched by the Russians in 1957, was called Sputnik This event launched a competition between nations called the Space Race

NASA In 1958, President Eisenhower created the American space agency, known as NASA

Cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin Russian astronauts are called The first man in space (1961) was a Russian cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin

Mercury program Alan Shepard John Glenn The first US manned space flight program was called Mercury program The first American in space (1961) was Alan Shepard The first American to orbit the earth (1962) was John Glenn He later served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio. He died in 2016.

Gemini program President Kennedy (1962) pledged to go to the moon and return safely during the 1960s. The second American space program was called Gemini program Each capsule held two astronauts

The third and final part of the moon program was the Apollo program Each capsule held three astronauts. At first, astronauts orbited the moon and returned to earth. The first mission to land on the moon was Apollo 11 in July, 1969

Neil Armstrong Buzz Aldrin The first man to walk on the moon was Followed moments later by Buzz Aldrin

Apollo 13 The U.S. successfully landed 6 missions on the moon’s surface between 1969 and 1972. The mission that failed was Apollo 13

Space Shuttle Challenger, in 1986 Columbia, in 2003 Following the last moon landing, America developed a reusable space vehicle called the Space Shuttle 135 missions, 1981 - 2011 Two space shuttles were lost Challenger, in 1986 and Columbia, in 2003

International Space Station The U.S. is now a partner with Russia in owning and operating the International Space Station