Space Exploration Timeline

The Cold War Begins

May 12, 1947

The Cold War was a silent battle between America and the Soviet Union. They raced to put the first man in space, the first satellite in Orbit, and the first man on the moon.

First Artificial Satellite is put into orbit

Oct 4, 1957

Launched by the Soviet Union.

First Living Organism in Space

Nov 3, 1957

A dog named Laika was put into Sputnik 2 and launched into space.

First pictures taken of Space

Oct 7, 1959

The pictures were taken of the moon by Luna 3, a space station.

First people to Orbit the moon

Dec 24, 1968

Men on Apollo 8 orbited the moon.

First Man on the Moon

Jul 20, 1969

Apollo 11 put the first man on the moon.

The First Landing on Another Planet

Dec 15, 1970

A soft landing on Venus by Venera 7 from the Soviet Union.

First Space Station Launched

Apr 19, 1971

The first space station is launched by the Soviet Union. It had space to live and study for long periods of time.

The First Reusable Spacecraft is Launched

Apr 12, 1981

The U.S. launched a reusable spacecraft that returned 2 days later.

First Crew to Reside in the Space Station

Nov 2, 2000

The first resident crew to live in the Russian space station.

The First Spacecraft to Land on a Different Planet's Moon

Jan 14, 2005

An American spacecraft landed on Saturn's moon Titan.

First Spacecraft to Return with Astroid Samples

Jun 13, 2010

The Japanese Spacecraft returned with samples that enriched our knowledge of space objects

First Spacecraft to Land on a Dwarf Planet

Mar 6, 2015

A European spacecraft landed on Ceres.

The Farthest Object Observed by a Spacecraft

Jan 19, 2019

The New Horizons Spacecraft visited the Kuiper Belt, going farther than any other spacecraft.