The Soviet Union had several firsts in space, with the US close behind during the Cold War after World War II.
Space is currently defined as being more than 100 km (62 miles) above the Earth. The first flights into "space" were by V-2 ballistic missiles of Nazi Germany, one of which reached an altitude of over 80 kilometers on October 3, 1942. Both the US and the USSR launched captured V-2 rockets from 1945 to 1947, many reaching altitudes of more than 100 km. The military rockets developed from these became the basis for ICBM's and, more importantly, for satellites and manned missions.
The actual era of space exploration was driven by a "Space Race" between the Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviets succeeded first with the launch of the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957, followed by the first manned flight, an orbit by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961.
Similar US launches by NASA were only a few months later, and included the extensive Earth orbital missions in the Mercury and Gemini programs. The Apollo missions first left Earth orbit (outer space) in 1968, and culminated in the first Moon landing by the US craft Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969.
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in outer space he was Russian
Alan Shepard was the first and second American to go to outer space.
The first creature to go to outer space was a dog named Laika.
Coca-Cola was the first soft drink to be consumed in outer space.
America's first satellite launched into outer space was called the Explorer 1, and was launched in 1958.
No Russia was, but we America was first to get on the moon.
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in outer space he was Russian
Space Exploration did not begin in the US. The first country to successfully launch a human into outer space was the Soviet Union.
Alan Shepard was the first and second American to go to outer space.
The first creature to go to outer space was a dog named Laika.
The first thing sent into outer space was a satellite
Coca-Cola was the first soft drink to be consumed in outer space.
America's first satellite launched into outer space was called the Explorer 1, and was launched in 1958.
The first Iowan in space was Peggy Whitson.
The first animal sent to Outer space was a dog named Laika.
Columbia
Alan sheperd was the first astronaut in space.