Space Exploration 1958-1980

Russia is first to reach the moon

Sep 12, 1959

The Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to ever reach the moon; it was sent out by the soviets in order to beat the U.S. in the space race.

First human on the moon (sent by the U.S.)

Jul 20, 1969

The Apollo 11 was the first space flight to successfully have a human land on the moon and travel back to Earth safely.

First U.S. space station

May 14, 1973

The Skylab launched by the U.S. was the first successful space station, having a workshop, a solar observatory, and things that humans need to survive.

First surface images of Mars

Jul 20, 1976

This was the the first time that the U.S. had ever landed a probe onto a planet. Viking

Voyager 1 Arrives at Saturn

Nov 12, 1980

The voyager 1 arrives at Saturn after 3 years and 2 months, collecting tons of pictures for NASA.