Sam Space Exploration Timeline By SamBolton Period: Apr 17, 1958 to Aug 8, 1978 Pioneer first and last launch dates Period: Mar 12, 1961 to Jun 7, 1983 Venera Space Program First to Last Launch Apr 1, 1961 The Day Yuri Gagarin Landed back on Earth Apr 7, 1961 Mercury lanch date Oct 4, 1961 Sputnik Launch date Jan 20, 1962 Gemini launch date Apr 12, 1981 First Shuttle launch May 4, 1989 Magellan Spacecraft Period: Oct 18, 1989 to Sep 21, 2003 Galileo space craft Apr 24, 1990 Hubble Space program Jun 10, 2003 Mars Rover Launch