Space exploratrion timeline By Metalman173 Period: Oct 4, 1957 to Dec 7, 1961 Sputnik, Mercury, and Gemini Projects Period: Aug 17, 1958 to Jan 23, 2003 Pioneer 11 spacecrafts Jan 1, 1961 Vanera project starts Period: Jul 22, 1962 to Nov 3, 1973 Maqriner missions 10 spacecrafts May 14, 1973 First ever space station launched (skylab) Aug 20, 1977 Voyager May 4, 1989 Magellan spacecraft launched Period: Oct 18, 1989 to Sep 21, 2003 Galileo missions Jan 1, 1990 Hubble space telescope launched Period: Feb 17, 1996 to Feb 28, 2001 N.E.A.R. Period: Aug 12, 1997 to Jul 8, 2011 Space Shuttles Oct 15, 1997 Cassini missions launched Period: Aug 8, 2001 to Apr 8, 2004 Genisis spacecraft Jun 10, 2003 Mars rover launched