significant events in space exploration

By rosaliebaker

  • Sputnik 2

    The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 was launched with a dog named Laika on board. Laika did not survive the voyage.

  • Sputnik 5

    The Soviet craft Sputnik 5 was launched, carrying the dogs Strelka and Belka. They became the first living beings to survive a trip into space.

  • Yuri Gagarin

    Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space.

  • Alan Shepard

    Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space

  • John Glenn

    Astronaut John Glenn became the first American in orbit.

  • first wowman in space

    Valentina Nikolayeva Tereshkova became the first woman in space.

  • Pictures of Mars

    The spacecraft Mariner 4 transmitted the first pictures of Mars.

  • orbitting space craft

    The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 was launched and later became the first spacecraft to orbit the moon and return to Earth.

  • first men on the moon

    Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men on the moon.
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    SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN SPACE EXPLORATION

  • probe on Mars

    The Soviet Venera 7 became the first probe to land on Venus.

  • Moon Rover

    The moon rover was driven on the moon for the first time.

  • Space Station

    The U.S. launched its first space station, Skylab.

  • Launch of the first of two spacecraft

    Launch of the first of two spacecraft called Pioneer Venus, which would study the Venusian atmosphere.

  • Young make the first mission

    Aboard the space shuttle Columbia, Robert L. Crippen and John W. Young make the first mission in NASA's space shuttle program.

  • first American woman in space

    --Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-7 aboard the space shuttle Challenger.

  • first black man in space

    Guion S. Bluford, Jr., becomes first black man in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-8 aboard the space shuttle Challenger

  • space shuttle explodes

    First major catastrophe for NASA, when space shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51L) explodes 73 seconds after takeoff with seven crewmembers aboard

  • Pathfinder lands on Mars

    Pathfinder lands on Mars. The rover Sojourner would go on to explore the Martian surface for more than 80 days

  • Space Station is launched.

    First piece of the International Space Station is launched.

  • collect samples of atoms from solar wind.

    --Launch of Genesis, which would collect samples of atoms from solar wind. Genesis would be the first attempt to return samples to Earth since the Apollo moon mission in 1972.

  • first Israeli astronaut, is lost after a 16-day mission

    Crew of seven astronauts, including the first Israeli astronaut, is lost after a 16-day mission when the Columbia space shuttle explodes on re-entry. The accident was later attributed to damage sustained to foam insulation and has led NASA to understand how to safely repair similar damage on later missions.

  • Mars Exploration Rovers

    Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity launch.

  • Spaceship one reaches outer space

    SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately built craft to reach outer space.