Sciences TimeLine of Exploration By vx19026 Jan 1, 1609 Spotting of the moon with the galileo telescope. Period: Jan 1, 1609 to Dec 31, 1956 Exploration 1606-1956 Jan 1, 1946 First research flight launched by the U.S. May 22, 1946 First U.S. designed focket to reach past Neptune Oct 24, 1946 First pictures of Earth Jan 1, 1947 First animal to be launched into space. ( Fruit Flys) Period: Jan 1, 1957 to Dec 31, 1980 Space Exploration 1957-1980 Aug 2, 1957 USA got the first pictures of Earth Jan 1, 1959 The first detecation of solar wind by Russia Jan 2, 1959 Russia put the first man-made satettile in space Aug 19, 1960 First plants and animals to return alvie from Earth orbit Jan 31, 1961 First task to perform in space Period: Jan 1, 1981 to Jan 1, 2014 1981-2014 Exploration Mar 1, 1982 First sample of soil from Venus Jun 13, 1983 First space craft to surpass Neptune and our S.S. Feb 14, 1990 First picture of the entire Solar System Feb 8, 1992 " First polar orbit anound the sun." Nov 12, 2014 First manmade probe to land on a comet