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Hans Lippershey invented the telescope
Hans Lippershey was the first to create a successful refracting telescope. -
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Space Exploration
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Galileo discovered Jupiter's four largest moons
The four largest moons were discovered by Galileo around January 1610 and were the first group of objects found to orbit another planet. -
Isaac Newton created the first successful reflecting telescope
It was a prototype that was later named a Newtonian Telescope. -
Publication of Principa
The English astronomer Sir Isaac Newton publishes the Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. -
Exploration of Cosmic Space
Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky publishesThe Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices. -
The first liquid fueled rocket launched by Robert H. Goddard a US scientist
American Robert H. Goddard successfully launched the first liqiud fueled rocket in Auburn, Massachussets. The rocket traveled 2.5 seconds at about 60 mph. -
First US High Altitude Fight
The U.S. military achieves its first high-altitude space flight using a rebuilt German V-2 rocket. Launched from the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico, the flight reaches an altitude of 70 miles. -
First animals launched into space by the US (fruit flies)
Nearly one hundred fruit flies left the launch pad as eggs, hatched during the flight and landed at the International Space Station in larval form. -
The first artificial satellite Sputnik was launched by the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 into an elliptical low Earth orbit. -
Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 with Laika the dong onboard
Laika was a Soviet Union dog who beame one of the first animals in space, and the first animals in low orbit. Unfortunately Laika did not make on the journey back. -
United States launches their first rocket
Explorer 1 was the first rocket launched by the United States. -
First American Satellite
America launched its first satellite. Weighing only 30 pounds, Explorer 1 was launched into orbit by the Army on a Jupiter-C rocket. -
NASA is born
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is founded, taking over the responsibilities of the existing National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics. -
First Man on The Moon
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, this was an astonishing achievement. -
First Space Station
The Salyut 1 space station is launched by the Soviet Union and become the first space station in orbit. -
First Lunar Rover Mission
Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin drive the first moon rover while exploring the Moon's surface. The next year, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt drives a similar rover. -
First Spacecraft to Orbit Another Planet
American space probe Mariner 9 is launched May 30, 1971. Six months later it arrives at the planet Mars and becomes the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. -
First Black Hole Candidate
Astronomers designate Cignus X-1 as the first probable black hole This binary star system emits strong bursts as X-rays as matter is crushed out of existence by the black hole. -
Discovery of Water Frost on Mars
Following the success of Viking 1, the Viking 2 spacecraft lands on Mars on the Plain of Utopia. It discovers and photographs water frost and sends back stunning images of the Martian surface. -
First International Space Rendezvous
American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft dock in what is the first international spacecraft rendezvous. -
Launch of Historic Voyager Missions
The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft leave Earth on an epic tour of the Solar System. They will soon meet with Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1980. -
U.S Probes arrive at Venus
Two U.S. Pioneer spacecraft reach the planet Venus. One drops four probes into the atmosphere, while the other maps the surface. -
Voyager 2 arrives at Jupiter
The U.S. Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, arrives at Jupiter and begins sending back amazing images of the giant planet and its moons. -
First Space Shuttle Launch
The first manned mission of the Space Transportation System (STS-1), Columbia, is launched. This mission, as well as the next three, will be a test flight to try out the spacecraft's systems. -
First Venus Soil Samples
The Soviet Venera 13 spacecraft lands on the planet Venus and provides the first scientific analysis of the Venusian soil. -
First American Woman in Space
Astronaut Sally K. Ride becomes the first American woman to travel into space on Space Shuttle -
Hubble Space Telescope launced into low Earth orbit
The Hubble Space Telescope was designed to free astronomers of a limitation that has tortured them since Galileo. -
New Space Endurance Record
Cosmonaut Valeriy Polyakov returns to Earth after an impressive 438-day mission aboard Russian space station Mir, setting a new space endurance record. -
First Landing on an Asteroid
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft is successfully landed on the surface of the asteroid Eros. -
New Space Walk Record
U.S. Shuttle astronauts Susan Helms and Jim Voss set a new endurance record as they install the Leonardo module aboard the International Space Station. The total time spent in space is 8 hours 56 minutes. -
Largest Space Telescope Launched
Russia launches the Spektr-R which becomes largest space telescope to be placed into orbit. -
Largest Space Telescope Launched
Russia launches the Spektr-R which becomes largest space telescope to be placed into orbit. -
First Skydive Jump to Break the Sound Barrier
Australian skydiver Felix Baumgartner becomes the first human being to break the sound barrier without a jet or spacecraft as he jumps from the edge of space. During his descent, he reaches a top speed of 833 mph (1340 kph). -
First Spacecraft to Land on a Comet
The European Space Agency's Philae lander becomes the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a comet. -
First Spacecraft to Orbit a Dwarf Planet
NASA's Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around dwarf planet Ceres. Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. -
First Spacecraft to Orbit a Dwarf Planet
NASA's Dawn spacecraft enters orbit around dwarf planet Ceres. Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. -
First Spacecraft to Land on a Comet
The European Space Agency's Philae lander becomes the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a comet.
