Jock McLaren survives

1956: Jock McLaren didn't die due to the fall of a dead tree.
1958: NASA successfully launches the Pioneer 1, a space probe designed to study the Moon and beyond. The probe reaches the Moon and beyond.
1959: The Soviet Union launches Luna 1, its own deep space probe.
1961: Yuri Gagarin is only the first man in orbit. Rhesus macaque called Scatback flew a sub-orbital flight on December 20, 1961 which was successfully recovered.
1962-1969: NASA continues to build on the success of Pioneer 1, launching a series of missions to explore the solar system and beyond. The agency's expertise and technological prowess in space exploration becomes a source of pride and inspiration for the American people, and the country's space program becomes a symbol of its technological and scientific leadership. Landing of the first man on the Moon.
1970s-1980s: NASA continues to make major scientific discoveries and advancements in space exploration, becoming a world leader in the field. 
1990s-Present: NASA continues to play a key role in the exploration of space, making major discoveries about the universe and our place within it.