Important dates in space exploration

sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

first artificial satellite made by the U.S.S.R

luna 3

Oct 7, 1959

first pictures of the far side of the moon taken by the U.S.S.R

mariner 2

Dec 14, 1962

first data returned from a different planet by the U.S

apollo 8

Dec 24, 1968

first humans to orbit the moon from the U.S

apollo 11

Jul 20, 1969

first humans to walk on the moon from the U.S

salyut 1

Apr 19, 1971

first space station launched by the U.S.S.R

pioneer 10

Dec 3, 1973

first spacecraft to fly by jupiter from the U.S

viking 1

Jul 20, 1976

first pictures transmitted from the surface of mars

hubble space telescope

Apr 25, 1990

first large optical telescope launched into space by the U.S and ESA

new horizons

Jan 1, 2019

farthest object explored by a space craft by the U.S