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The Race to the Moon: A Timeline of the Historic Journey

Beau Carter

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Published in DK Readers L3: Spacebusters: The Race To The Moon (DK Readers Level 3)

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The race to the moon was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to be the first to land humans on the moon. The race began in 1955 with the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. The United States responded with the launch of Explorer 1 in 1958, and the race was on.

DK Readers L3: Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon (DK Readers Level 3)

by Philip Wilkinson

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2854 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	53 pages

The race to the moon was a major turning point in the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union were both determined to prove their technological superiority, and the moon landing was seen as a major victory for the United States.

The race to the moon also had a profound impact on the development of space exploration. The technology developed for the moon landing led to the development of new satellites, rockets, and space suits. It also helped to pave the way for the development of the International Space Station.

Timeline of the Race to the Moon

1955

* October 4: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.

1958

* January 31: The United States launches Explorer 1, the first American satellite to orbit the Earth.

1959

* September 12: The Soviet Union launches Luna 2, the first spacecraft to reach the moon.

1961

* April 12: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to orbit the Earth. * May 5: American astronaut Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into space.

1962

* February 20: John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth. * July 16: The United States launches Mariner 2, the first spacecraft to fly by another planet (Venus).

1963

* June 16: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman to travel into space.

1964

* July 18: The United States launches Ranger 7, which sends back the first close-up images of the moon.

1965

* March 18: The Soviet Union launches Voskhod 2, the first spacecraft to carry a spacewalk.

1966

* June 3: The United States launches Surveyor 1, the first American spacecraft to land on the moon.

1967

* January 27: The United States launches Apollo 1, the first manned Apollo mission. However, the mission ends in tragedy when the spacecraft catches fire during a launch pad test, killing all three astronauts on board. * October 11: The United States launches Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission to successfully orbit the Earth.

1968

* December 21: The United States launches Apollo 8, the first manned Apollo mission to orbit the moon.

1969

* July 20: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first humans to walk on the moon.

1972

* December 11: The United States launches Apollo 17, the last manned Apollo mission to land on the moon.

The Legacy of the Race to the Moon

The race to the moon was a major turning point in the Cold War and the development of space exploration. It also had a profound impact on the world, inspiring generations of scientists and engineers.

The race to the moon is a reminder of what can be achieved when nations work together. It is a testament to the power of human ingenuity and the indomitable spirit of exploration.

DK Readers L3: Spacebusters: The Race to the Moon (DK Readers Level 3)

by Philip Wilkinson

4.7 out of 5