Events in Space History Timeline

Goddard Launches the First Liquid-Fueled Rocket

Mar 16, 1926

The first liquid fueled rocket was launched. A key person invloved was Robert Goddard.

A Miami Beach Planned Rocket Launch to the Planet Venus

Jan 1, 1928

A Miami Beach planned a rocket launch to planet Venus. A key person involved in that was Robert Condit.

First German military liquid-fueled rocket engines developed

Jan 1, 1931

The first German military liquid fueled rocket engines were developed.

Group for the Study of Reactive Motion Launches the First Soviet Liquid-Fueled Rocket

Aug 7, 1933

GIRD launches the first Soviet liquid fueled rocket. A key person invlolved was Sergey Korolev

First vehicle to cross the Karman line

Oct 3, 1942

The first vehicle crossed the Karman line.

First Space Research Flight

May 10, 1946

The first space research flight was conducted

First U.S.-Designed Rocket to Reach Edge of Space

May 22, 1946

The first US designed rocket reached the edge of space. A key person involved was Frank Malina

First pictures of earth

Oct 24, 1946

The first pictures were taken of the planet Earth.

First animals in space

Feb 20, 1947

The first animals were launched into space (fruitflies)

First artificial satellite

Oct 4, 1957

The first srtificial satellite was launched into space (Sputnik 1).

First photograph of Earth from orbit

Aug 7, 1959

The first photograph of Earth from orbit was taken.

First photos of far side of the Moon

Oct 4, 1959

The first photos were taken of the far side of the moon.

First plants and animals to return alive from Earth orbit

Aug 19, 1960

The first animals and plants returned alive from orbit.

First woman in space

Jun 16, 1963

The first women was put into space. The women was Valentina Tereshkova

First human on the Moon

Jul 14, 1965

The first human to step foot on the Moon (Neil Armstrong).

First impact into another planet

Mar 1, 1966

The first impact to another planet (Venus)

First artificial satellite around another world

Apr 3, 1966

The first artificial satellite went around another world which was the Moon.

First lunar rover

Nov 23, 1970

The first lunar rover.

First space station

Apr 23, 1971

The first space station put into space. (Salyut 1)

First impact into Mars

Nov 27, 1971

The first impact into mars

First Reusable manned spacecraft

Apr 12, 1981

The first reusable manned spacecraft put into space.

First Venus soil samples

Mar 1, 1982

The first samples of Venus's soil was gathered.

First untethered spacewalk

Feb 7, 1984

The first untethered spacewalk took place.

First Uranus flyby

Jan 24, 1986

First time flown past the planet Uranus.

First photograph of the whole solar system

Feb 14, 1990

The first picture of the entire solar system was taken.

First polar orbit around the Sun

Feb 8, 1992

The first polar orbit around the Sun occured.

First orbit of Jupiter

Dec 7, 1995

The first time to orbit the planet Jupiter.

First orbit of Saturn

Jul 1, 2004

The first time to orbit the planet Saturn.

First soft landing on Titan

Jan 14, 2005

The first soft landing on Titan.

First orbit of Mercury

Mar 18, 2011

The first time orbiting the planet Mercury