The history of the US space program is rich and spans several decades. Here is a brief overview of its major milestones:
The Space Race: The US space program gained momentum during the Cold War era in the late 1950s and 1960s, fueled by competition with the Soviet Union. In 1958, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established as a civilian space agency to coordinate space exploration efforts.
Mercury Program: The Mercury program, starting in 1958, aimed to put Americans into space. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to travel to space aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft.
Gemini Program: The Gemini program, conducted from 1961 to 1966, focused on developing space travel techniques and performing extended duration missions. It involved a series of manned spacecraft, with notable achievements such as the first American spacewalk by Ed White in 1965.
Apollo Program: The Apollo program, running from 1961 to 1972, was the most iconic phase of the US space program. It aimed to land humans on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully achieved this goal when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface.
