Space Exploration Timeline By PWAAAAA Oct 1, 1957 Space exploration starts Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik 1 is Launched Nov 3, 1957 Sputnik 2 is Launched Period: Apr 4, 1958 to Apr 4, 1983 Pioneer program is in existance Period: Oct 7, 1958 to Sep 18, 1963 Mercury program in existance Period: Jan 1, 1961 to Dec 31, 1972 Apollo program in existance Period: Feb 12, 1961 to Jul 10, 1984 Venera program is in existance Period: Jan 1, 1962 to Dec 31, 1973 Mariner program in existance Period: Jan 1, 1964 to Dec 31, 1966 Gemini program is in existance Jul 20, 1969 First Moon Landing Period: Aug 8, 1969 to Jul 11, 1979 Skylab Space Station is in orbit Period: Apr 19, 1971 to Feb 7, 1991 Salyut Space Station is in orbit Jul 20, 1976 Viking 1 takes its First Picture Sep 3, 1976 Viking 2 Lands Aug 20, 1977 Voyager 2 takes off The Voyager 2 probe begins its journey from earth. It took off at 10:29 AM from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Sep 5, 1977 Voyager 1 Takes off The Voyager 1 Probe begins its joyrney into space. It left earth on a Titan-Centurian Rocket from Cape Canaveral at 8:56 AM. Apr 12, 1981 Space Shuttle's First Launch Period: Feb 20, 1986 to Mar 21, 2001 Mir Space Station is in orbit May 4, 1989 Magellan is Launched Oct 18, 1989 Galileo Spacecraft lifts off Apr 25, 1990 Hubble Space Telescope Launched Feb 17, 1996 NEAR spacecraft is launched Jul 4, 1997 Mars Rover Sojourner Lands on Mars Oct 15, 1997 Cassini Is launched into space Nov 16, 2001 Genisis Sspacecraft launched Jul 21, 2011 Space Shuttle's Last Launch Dec 31, 2013 Space Exploration End