1960's Space Program

1960's Space Program

The Soviets beat the US to space when they launched the Vostok into space and it made one whole orbit around Earth. Alan Shepard became the first American in space and took a fifteen minute flight in his tiny Mercury spacecraft. The US was very excited! Kennedy decided he wanted to send a man to the moon and bring him back safely. He felt this was the perfect way to break ahead of the Soviets.

John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth and he did so three times before returning home. Gordon Cooper spend a whole day in space. The Soviets were still ahead of the US. They had already had their first woman in space and she said up almost three days.

NASA created the most sophisticated spacecraft yet which had the ability to change its orbit in mid flight. The Gemini spacecraft had the first controlled reentries to Earth as well as staying in space for 14 days and the space walks lasting up to two hours.

The US also worked on robots there could go even farther into space and we got the first pictures of Venus and Mars. Apollo 8 went into lunar orbit and took many pictures and returned safely. This was a huge victory for the US.

Armstrong became the first man to step on the moon and he said his famous line, "Thats one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind."