Space Exploration Timeline By s-colpeterson Period: Oct 1, 1957 to Dec 31, 2013 Space Exploration Timeline Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik 1 launched Aug 17, 1958 Pioneer 0 Oct 7, 1958 Mercury started Mar 3, 1959 Pioneer 4 launch Feb 12, 1961 First Venera probe launched Jul 22, 1962 Marinier launched Aug 27, 1962 Mariner launch Nov 28, 1964 Mariners 3 and 4 Apr 15, 1965 Gemini project started Apr 15, 1966 Gemini project ended Mar 3, 1972 Pioneer 10 launch Nov 3, 1973 Mariner 10 launch Dec 16, 1973 Pioneer Jupiter flyby Aug 20, 1975 Viking 1 took off Sep 9, 1975 Viking 2 took off Jul 20, 1976 Viking 1 touched down on Mars Sep 3, 1976 Viking 2 touched down on Mars Apr 16, 1977 Voyager Probes launched Aug 20, 1977 Voyager 2 launched Sep 5, 1977 Voyager 1 launched Apr 16, 1980 Started building Mars Exploration rover Apr 12, 1981 First Space Shuttle launched Oct 14, 1983 Last Venera probe reached Venus May 4, 1989 Magellan launched Aug 10, 1990 Magellan arrived on Venus Apr 15, 1991 First Mars exploration mission cost too much and was stopped Apr 15, 1993 Mars Observer leaked fuel and triggered explosion Apr 16, 1994 New technology attempted to make rover cheaper Oct 12, 1994 Magellan lost signal Apr 16, 1996 Mars Exploration liftoff planned Mar 31, 1997 Pioneer operations discontinued Apr 16, 1997 Last complete transition sent from Mars Exploration Rover Oct 15, 1997 Cassini project launched Oct 31, 2000 American ISS piece launched Nov 2, 2000 ISS docked Jun 30, 2004 Cassini entered Saturn's orbit Jan 1, 2011 ISS construction completed Jul 21, 2011 Final Space Shuttle lands Apr 15, 2013 Space Shuttle started Apr 15, 2017 Cassini spacecraft done taking pictures