Here is a timeline to show the first people in space by nationality. At first, from 1960 to 1969, Soviet Union : Yuri Gagarin and the United States: Alan Shepard. Then, from 1970 to 1979, Czechslovakia : Vladimír Remek, Poland : Mirosław Hermaszewski, East Germany : Sigmund Jähn, and Bulgaria : Georgi Ivanov. Learn more details from this timeline, or try to make yours with ease.