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Sputnik, Mercury, and Gemini
Sputnik 1 was launched this date. Sputnik created NASA, Mercury could see if humans could survive stress of liftoff, and Gemini learned about weightlessness for humasn. All started the space race between the Soviet Union and U.S. -
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Karen Burrington
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Apollo Mission
There were 15 total Apollo missions, all with the same goal: get a man on the moon and get him back alive. They didn't all succeed - in fact, most failed. But with each failure we learned more, and were finally able to put somebody on the Moon on this date. (Apollo 11) -
Viking Space Program (#1 launched)
NASA was responsible for the Vikings studying Mars. Viking 1 took the first picture on Mars, and we learned that water once existed on Mars. Launched from Florida, this Program costed an estimated 1 billion dollars. -
Voyager 1 & 2
On this date, the first Voyager was launched from Florida. It costed 983 million dollars, and together the two explored 4 planets and 48 moons. One of them is still out exploring! -
Space Shuttle (first launch)
It brought cargo, satellites, and astronauts into space. This program lasted 30 years and consisted of 135 laumches for 196 million dollars. -
Space Stations Start
They mainly proved humans could live and work in space. Mir was first orbited on this day. Space stations were made from various countries, but all had similar goals. There are 5 in all, with a few that are yet to be launched. -
Magellan Spacecraft Launch
The Magellan is the first spacecraft to land on Venus. This is huge in scientific research because it is covered thickly in clouds, and radar from couldn't map more than a partial hemisphere. Once the Magellan got under the cloud surface, it mapped over 98% of the planet before landing. Information about Venus is important because it is our 'planetary twin' because its of similar distance to the Sun, size, and moon cycle as our Earth. -
Galileo Launch
The Galileo studied Jupiter's atmosphere and moons. It used a gravity assist to return and flew by two asteroids. -
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble orbited Earth and took pictures of Earth. It was internationally used and funed, and is still sending back data today. Until the Huibble, nobody could see objects in space extremely close or that clear. -
N.E.A.R. Shoemaker
Eros is the closest asteroid to Earth, studied by the Shoemaker. It orbited 230 times, and alot was learned about asteroids. -
Cassini Launch
The Cassini visited the planet Saturn and its moon Titan. NASA, ESA, and ISA (U.S., Italy and England) teamed together to make it possible for 3.26 billion dollars. It was made to land with a controlled fall. -
Genesis Launch
The Genesis furthered our understanding about the origin of our solar system and particles in space. NASA was responsible. -
Mars Explorer Rover Launch
There were two Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. spirit waws launched on this date. Oppurtunity is still on Mars. The purpose of the mission was to see if there was any trace of water on Mars.