Oct. 1957
Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the
world’s first artificial satellite
Nov. 1957
Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 with
first living creature (a dog) into
space.
Jan. 1958
United States launches Explorer 1, its
first artificial Satellite to orbit Earth.
Jan. 1959
Soviet Union sends Luna1 to orbit the
moon
Apr. 1961
Soviet Union sends first human, Yuri
Gagarin, to pilot space craft.
May 1961
Alan Shepard is first American in space
on spacecraft Freedom for Mercury 3
Mission.
Feb. 1962
American John Glenn is first man to
orbit Earth on spacecraft Friendship 7
for Mercury 6 mission.
Mar. 1966
First docking of spacecrafts in space
by American Neil Armstrong on Gemini
VII.
Jan. 1967
Apollo 1 spacecraft catches on fire
during launch killing 3 American
Astronauts.
July 20, 1969
Neil Armstrong is first man to walk on
moon followed by Buzz Aldrin (U.S.
Apollo 11 mission)
Apr. 1971
USSR launches first space station
ever, Salyut 1.
Jul. 1971
American David Scott is first man to drive
a car (rover) on the moon.
Dec. 1972
Apollo 17 is sixth and last manned
mission to date to land on the moon.
May 1973
United States launches its first space
station; Skylab, for astronauts to live
and work in space.
1976
United States sent probes Viking 4 and 2
to take pictures of Mars and send data
back.
April 1981
First launch of a Space Shuttle
(Columbia). Mission STS-1
-
June 1983
First American Woman in space – Sally
Ride.
Jan. 1986
US Spacecraft Challenger explodes
killing all 7 astronauts including teacher
Christa McAuliffe.
Feb. 1986
Soviets launch space station MIR that
orbited Earth for 15 years.
Apr. 1990
Hubble Space Telescope is launched into Exosphere
to orbit Earth. Its images are clearer than pictures from
Earth due to lack of atmosphere.
Dec. 1998
First part of International Space Station
(ISS) is assembled in space.
Feb. 2003
Space shuttle Columbia is lost over Texas and parts
of Louisiana 16 min. before landing. All 7 astronauts
are lost.
Aug 2007
U.S. sent first teacher, Barbara Morgan,
into Space.
2010
Completion of ISS and last flight of space
shuttle fleet scheduled.
Feb 2011
Space shuttle Discovery returns from its
final mission.
May 2011
Space shuttle Endeavour returns from its
final mission.
July 2011
Space shuttle Atlantis returns from its
final mission.
2012
SpaceX sends Dragon 1 to resupply the
ISS
2015
SpaceX lands vertical rocket. First step
toward reusable rockets to lower costs.