The Russians launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, October 4, 1957. Next, Sputnik 2, carrying a dog called Laika, went up in space on November 3. The Americans launched Explorer l, on January 3 1958. The Americans won the race to land on the moon more than ten yea later with Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969. "This is one small step for a ma one giant leap for mankind," said astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first pers to walk on the moon. Space exploration has continued since then, and has brought new discoveries in many different areas of science.