Ryan H. History of Space Exploration

By Ryan. H
  • Sputnik 1

    Sputnik 1

    October 4, 1957 - Sputnik 1, the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958.
  • First dog in Space

    First dog in Space

    Laika was the first dog in Space
  • Sputnik 2

    Sputnik 2

    November 3, 1957 - Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, 1958.
  • Explorer 1

    Explorer 1

    January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt.
  • Explorer 2

    Explorer 2

    March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.
  • Vanguard 1

    Vanguard 1

    March 17, 1958 - Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into orbit, and continues to transmit for 3 years.
  • Sputnik 3

    Sputnik 3

    May 15, 1958 - Sputnik 3 is launched by the U.S.S.R.

  • NASA

    October 1, 1958 - N.A.S.A. is founded, taking over existing National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.

  • Pioneer 1

    October 11, 1958 - Pioneer 1, U.S. - IGY space probe, launched to a height of 70,700 miles.

  • Luna 1

    January 2, 1959 - Luna 1, first man-made satellite to orbit the moon, is launched by the U.S.S.R.

  • Pioneer 4

    March 3, 1959 - Pioneer 4, fourth U.S.-IGY space probe was launched by a Juno II rocket, and achieved an earth-moon trajectory, passing within 37,000 miles of the moon. It then fell into a solar orbit, becoming the first U.S. sun orbiter.

  • Luna 2

    September 12, 1959 - Luna 2 is launched, impacting on the moon on September 13 carrying a copy of the Soviet coat of arms, and becoming the first man-made object to hit the moon.

  • Luna 3

    October 4, 1959 - Luna 3 translunar satellite is launched, orbiting the moon and photographing 70 percent of the far side of the moon.

  • Tiros 1

    April 1, 1960 - Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched by the U.S.

  • Dicoverer

    August 18, 1960 - Discoverer XIV launches the first U.S. camera-equipped Corona spy satellite.

  • Gemini 7

    December 4, 1965 - Gemini 7 is launched carrying Frank Borman and James A. Lovell, Jr., making 206 orbits around Earth and proving a trip to the Moon possible.

  • Mariner 9

    May 30, 1971 - The United States launches Mariner 9, which becomes the first spacecraft to survey Mars from orbit.

  • Apollo 18

    July, 1975 - American Apollo (18) and Soviet Soyuz 19 dock, the first international spacecraft rendezvous.

  • Challenger

    April 4, 1983 - The space shuttle Challenger lifts off for its first mission (STS-6) and has the first American space walk in nine years. Crew: Paul Weitz, Karol Bobko, Donald Peterson, and Story Musgrave.

  • Challenger

    January 28, 1986 - The space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after liftoff of mission STS-51L.

  • Discovery

    June 2, 1998 - Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on a 10-day mission, its 24th and the last shuttle docking with Mir.

  • Deep Space 1

    September 22, 2001 - Deep Space 1 successfully completes its flyby of comet 19P/Borrelly.

  • Galileo

    October 16, 2001 - Galileo completes another flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, passing only 181 km from Io's south polar region.

  • Endeavour

    December 5, 2001 - Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched carrying the Raffaello logistics module back to the ISS with new supplies.