‘The space race began on August 2, 1955, when the USSR responded to the US announcement of its intention to launch the first artificial satellite by declaring its own plans to do the same. On October 4, 1957, the USSR successfully launched Sputnik 1, the first Earth-orbiting satellite in history. However, on the morning of October 25, 1964, Zambia stunned the world as the first female Afronaut, Matha Mwamba, was launched into space, becoming the first African country to send a manned spacecraft

Remembering The Sputnik 1 Launch: The First Artificial Satellite to Enter Earth Orbit