The Little Spacecraft That Missed the Moon
On January 2, 1959, the Soviet Union launched Luna 1 at the Moon; a timing error sent it sailing past its target, but it still became the first human-made object to escape Earth and orbit the Sun.
Tales from the year 1959
The 49th Star: Alaska Becomes a State
On January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state, ending one of the longest statehood fights in American history.
Barbie's Big Debut: The Doll That Changed Toy Aisles Forever
On March 9, 1959, Mattel unveiled Barbie at the American International Toy Fair, and the eleven-inch 'Teen-age Fashion Model' became the most famous doll in history.
Able and Baker: Two Tiny Astronauts Survive Space
On May 28, 1959, two monkeys — Able and Baker — rode a Jupiter missile 360 miles up and came home alive, the first primates to survive spaceflight.