The Space Race

Flashcards covering key events and figures in the Space Race.

Sputnik

The world's first artificial satellite, launched by the Soviets in 1957, marking the beginning of the space race.

Laika

The first animal to orbit the Earth, sent by the Soviets in Sputnik II to gather data for future manned missions.

Yuri Gagarin

First man in space, completing one orbit flight in April 1961 (Vostok 1).

Gherman Titov

First full day in orbit in August 1961 (Vostok 2).

Valentina Tereshkova

First woman in space in June 1963 (Vostok 6).

Alexei Leonov

First spacewalk in March 1965 (Voskhod 2).

Soviet N-1 Rocket

The rocket Soviets hoped would take them to the moon.

NASA

U.S. space agency established in October 1958 to emphasize space exploration.

Alan Shepard

First American in space, making a 15-minute flight on May 5, 1961.

John F. Kennedy

President who set the goal in May 1961 to land a man on the moon within the decade.

John Glenn

First American to orbit the Earth in February 1962.

Apollo Program

The program with the goal to land on the moon.

Neil Armstrong

First man to walk on the moon on July 21, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission.