Laika the dog was the first Earthling in space. The Soviet Union launched her into orbit aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957.
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (right) became the first human in space in 1961. The first American in space was Alan Shepard. Shepard also was the fith American to walk on the Moon.
American Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders were the first humans to leave Earth orbit aboard Apollo 8 in 1968.
