Neil Armstorng By kz18262 Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik 1, the first man-made object to orbit the Earth Nov 3, 1957 Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit Nov 21, 1957 First artificial satellite put into space that brings back signals to earth launched by the USSR Jan 31, 1958 Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit Jan 31, 1958 Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit Mar 5, 1958 Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket Mar 17, 1958 Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into orbit May 15, 1958 Sputnik 3 is launched by the U.S.S.R. Jan 1, 1969 Soyuz 4 & 5 perform the first Soviet spaceship docking Jul 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin Jul 31, 1969 Mariner 6 returns high-resolution images of the Martian surface Aug 5, 1969 Mariner 7 returns high-resolution images of the Martian surface Nov 12, 1980 The Voyager 1 spacecraft arrives at Saturn and begins sending back extraordinary images of the ringed planet and its many moons. Apr 12, 1981 The first manned mission of the Space Transportation System (STS-1), Columbia Apr 12, 1981 The first manned mission of the Space Transportation System (STS-1), Jun 19, 1981 The European Space Agency launches its third Ariane rocket. Aug 25, 1981 The Voyager 2 spacecraft arrives at Saturn and begins sending back images of the planet and its moons. Dec 20, 1981 The ESA launches a fourth Ariane rocket.
