The Space Race
The Russians launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, on October 4, 1957 . /next, Sputnik 2, carrying a dog called Laika, went up into space on November 3. The Americans launched Explorer I, on January 31 , 1958. The Americans won the race to land on the moon more than ten years later-with Apollo ll on July 20, 1969. " this is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind, " said astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon. Space exploration has continued since then, and has brought new discoveries in many different areas of science.