Science Timeline By s-chgraves Period: Oct 1, 1957 to Dec 31, 2013 timespan Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik - launched Feb 12, 1961 Venera #1 - launched May 5, 1961 Mercury - launched Apr 8, 1964 Gemimi Project - launched Jul 14, 1965 Mariner - first picture Jul 22, 1965 Mariner - first launch Nov 16, 1965 Verera #3 - launched Aug 17, 1970 Verena #7 - launched Nov 3, 1973 Mariner - last launch Jan 1, 1975 Verena #10 - first to bring back pictures Jun 14, 1975 Verena #10 - launched Aug 20, 1975 Viking #1 - launched Sep 9, 1975 Viking #2 - launched Jun 19, 1976 Viking #1 - entered orbit Aug 7, 1976 Viking #2 - entered orbit Jan 1, 1977 Hubble - authorized Aug 20, 1977 Voyager #2 - Launched Sep 5, 1977 Voyager #1 - launched Jan 1, 1980 Viking #2 - stopped working Jan 1, 1982 Viking #1 - stopped working Jan 1, 1982 Space Shuttle - first used Jan 1, 1986 Hubble - Sheduled for launch Jan 1, 1986 Space Stations - starter orbit around earth Jan 1, 1986 Space Station - started builing proccess Jan 28, 1986 Space Shuttle - Challenger crashed May 4, 1989 Magellan - launched Oct 18, 1989 Galileo - launched Apr 24, 1990 Hubble - launched Aug 10, 1990 Magellan - Orbital Insertion Oct 29, 1991 Galileo - Asteroid Gaspran fly-by Oct 12, 1994 Magellan - lost communication Oct 13, 1994 Magellan - crashed on Venus Jan 1, 1996 Space Station - ending proccess Feb 17, 1996 NEAR - launched spacecraft Jun 27, 1997 NEAR - Mathilde Fly-by Flyby speed was 9.93 kilometers/sec. Jul 3, 1997 NEAR - Deep Space Maneuver Oct 15, 1997 Cassini - Launch Dec 16, 1997 Galileo - end of mission Jan 22, 1998 NEAR - Earth fly-by Jan 1, 2001 Genesis - launched Jan 1, 2001 Space Station - ended orbit around earth Feb 12, 2001 NEAR - Spacecraft Landed landed on Eros, took four hours to descent Feb 28, 2001 NEAR - Last Call to Earth Jan 1, 2004 Genesis - returned Jan 1, 2004 Mars Rover - started Jul 1, 2004 Cassini - landed Jan 1, 2008 Mars Rover - mostly developed Jul 30, 2008 Cassini - completed mission Nov 26, 2011 Mars Rover - launched Aug 6, 2012 Mars Rover - landed