Space Exploration

By GP21113
  • Robert Goddard publishes "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes."

    Robert Goddard publishes "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes."

    The book describes Goddard's mathematical theories of rocket flight and his research into liquid-fuel rockets. It's believed
    to have influenced the work of German rocket pioneers Hermann Oberth and Wernher von Braun.
  • First liquid-fueled rocket was launched.

    First liquid-fueled rocket was launched.

    U.S. Rocket Scientist Robert Goddard, launches the first liquid-fueled rocket from a farm in Massachusetts. The 4-foot tall rocket "Nell", reached an altitude of 41 feet and a speed of about 60 miles per hour. The mission proved the worth of liquid fuel over solid fuel.

  • First suborbital flight.

    Germany successfully launched their first V-2 rocket. It was the first man-made object to achieve sub-orbital space flight, reaching an altitude of 62 miles. The V-2 pioneered all modern space rockets including the US Apollo Program's Saturn V moon rocket.

  • First artificial satellite.

    The USSR launched "Sputnik 1" into space, and at 184 pounds became the world's first artificial satellite. Although Sputnik only transmitted radio signals back to Earth for a short time, it was still a major accomplishment.

  • First live animal in space.

    After the launch of "Sputnik 1" the Soviets launched "Sputnik 2", which contained a pressurized container housing the dog Laika. The container contained a controlled atmosphere, food supply, and waste collection system. Laika lived for 5 hours- but still showed that life can be sustained in space.

  • NASA is born.

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is founded, taking over for the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics. NASA is the leader of the US space program.
  • First man in space.

    First man in space.

    Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was the first human in space, using the Vostok 1 spacecraft. It made one complete orbit around the Earth, reached an altitude of 203 miles, and had a total flight time of one hour and 48 minutes.
  • First man on the moon.

    First man on the moon.

    Apollo 11 made the first successful soft landing on the moon, making Neil Armstrong and Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Jr. the first men to set foot on the moon.
  • First space station.

    First space station.

    "Salyut 1" was launched by Russia and was the first space station put into orbit it remained in orbit until 1973.
  • Discovery of water frost on Mars.

    Discovery of water frost on Mars.

    The US spacecraft "Viking 2" landed on Mars on the Plain of Utopia. It discovered/photographed water frost and sent stunning images back to Earth
  • First American woman in space.

    First American woman in space.

    American astronaut Sally Ride was the first woman to travel to space. This was accomplished aboard the Challenger mission STS-7.

  • First untethered spacewalk.

    Astronaut Bruce McCandless was the first man to do an untethered spacewalk using the manned maneuvering unit (MMU).
  • The Challenger Tragedy.

    The Challenger Tragedy.

    The space shuttle "Challenger" exploded shortly after takeoff for the mission STS-51L because of a faulty O-ring. The shuttle was destroyed along with the deaths of all 7 crew members, including the first civilian/teacher in space, Christina McAuliffe.
  • Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.

    Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.

    The space shuttle "Discovery" carried the Edwin P. Hubble Space Telescope into space. Hubble provides us with groundbreaking, breathtaking images.
  • The Mars Pathfinder lands on Mars.

    The Mars Pathfinder lands on Mars.

    The Pathfinder is an American robotic spacecraft that landed on Mars with a landing pad and a roving probe named Sojourner- which became the first rover to operate outside the Earth-Moon system.