Space By s-dyjonas Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik Launched Period: Oct 10, 1957 to Apr 3, 2013 Space Exploration Jan 1, 1958 Pioneer Program start (13 missions) Jan 1, 1961 Mercury orbit complete Feb 12, 1961 Veneera Programs Jan 1, 1962 Gimini launched Period: Jan 1, 1962 to Jan 1, 1963 Mariner Program Aug 27, 1962 Mariner 2 launched Jan 1, 1969 Started early studiesand designs of shuttles Period: Jan 1, 1971 to Jan 1, 1986 Salyut Period: Jan 1, 1971 to Jan 1, 1974 Almaz Period: Apr 3, 1973 to Apr 3, 1979 Skylab Jan 1, 1975 Viking 1 launched Aug 1, 1976 Viking 2 Completes orbit Feb 5, 1977 Voyager 1 Launched Jan 1, 1978 Pioneer Program End (13 missions) Jan 1, 1979 European Space Agency began working with NASA Jan 1, 1980 Magellan approved; Jan 1, 1981 Columbia Space shuttle launched Jan 1, 1985 Hubble telescope finished Jan 1, 1989 Magellan launched in Atlantis Oct 18, 1989 Galileo Launched Dec 7, 1989 Galileo Arived Jan 1, 1990 Hubble telescope launched Jan 1, 1990 Magellan reached Venus Feb 17, 1996 NEAR Mission launched Jun 10, 2003 Mars Rover Launched May 11, 2009 First Man to use Twitter in Space