US and Soviet space exploration rivalry, Sputnik, Apollo, and cosmonauts.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
What did Apollo 8 achieve before the first crewed lunar landing?
Apollo 8 became the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon and return safely; its crew also photographed the famous Earthrise.
Which Soviet spacecraft became the first artificial satellite?
Sputnik 1 launched in 1957 and transmitted radio beeps while orbiting Earth, making the Soviet Union the first nation to launch an artificial satellite.
Which American satellite answered Sputnik with a January 1958 launch?
Explorer 1 launched January 31 1958 and discovered the Van Allen radiation belts.
Which Soviet cosmonaut first traveled into space in April 1961?
Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth once aboard Vostok 1 on April 12 1961 in a 108 minute flight.
Which NASA program first put an American into orbit?
Project Mercury put John Glenn into orbit in 1962, after Alan Shepard became the first American in space on a suborbital flight.
What does Apollo 11's lunar laser-ranging retroreflector help scientists measure?
The array still reflects laser pulses, supporting long-term studies of lunar motion and general relativity.
Which Project Gemini mission featured the first American spacewalk in June 1965?
Ed White performed the first American spacewalk for 23 minutes outside Gemini 4 on June 3 1965.
Which American astronaut first orbited Earth aboard Friendship 7 in February 1962?
John Glenn completed three orbits on February 20 1962 aboard Friendship 7 in Project Mercury.
Which Apollo 11 crew member orbited the Moon alone while the others walked on it?
Collins stayed in the command module while his crewmates walked on the Moon, losing radio contact for about 48 minutes each orbit behind the far side.
Who was the first human to set foot on the Moon?
Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, minutes before Buzz Aldrin joined him there.