Timeline of the Space Race
This is a timeline of first achievements in spaceflight from the first intercontinental ballistic missile through the first multinational human-crewed mission—spanning the era of the Space Race. On July 31, 1956, the United States announced its intention to launch an artificial satellite during the International Geophysical Year. Two days later the Soviet Union announced its intention to do the same. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, beating the United States and stunning people all over the world.1957–1960
1Project Vanguard transferred from the NRL to NASA immediately before launch.1961–1969
2 The Soviet Union had attempted an earlier rendezvous on August 12, 1962. However, Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 only came within five kilometers of one another, and operated in different orbital planes. Pravda did not mention this information, but indicated that a rendezvous had taken place.1970–1975
