Space timeline

  • Galileo uses the refracting telescope to study the planets and stars

    Galileo uses the refracting telescope to study the planets and stars
    Galileo uses the refracting telescope to study the planets and stars
  • Edwin Hubble discovers that spiral nebulas are galaxies outside of the Milky Way

    Edwin Hubble discovers that spiral nebulas are galaxies outside of the Milky Way
    Edwin Hubble discovers that spiral nebulas are galaxies outside of the Milky Way
  • Goddard invents the liquid-fuel rocket

    Goddard invents the liquid-fuel rocket
    Goddard invents the liquid-fuel rocket
  • The first radio waves observed by Karl Jansky

    The first radio waves observed by Karl Jansky
    The first radio waves observed by Karl Jansky
  • The Soviets launch the first satellite, Sputnik, to begin space exploration

    The Soviets launch the first satellite, Sputnik, to begin space exploration
    The Soviets launch the first satellite, Sputnik, to begin space exploration
  • U.S. government invents a communication satellite

    U.S. government invents a communication satellite
    U.S. government invents a communication satellite
  • The Soviet probe, Luna 3, takes the first pictures of the moon

    The Soviet probe, Luna 3, takes the first pictures of the moon
    The Soviet probe, Luna 3, takes the first pictures of the moon
  • Astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the surface of the moon

    Astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the surface of the moon
    Astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the surface of the moon
  • U.S. government scientists invent Skylab orbiting space laboratory

    U.S. government scientists invent Skylab orbiting space laboratory
    U.S. government scientists invent Skylab orbiting space laboratory
  • First test flight of the shuttle orbiter. Discovery of Uranus’ rings

    First test flight of the shuttle orbiter. Discovery of Uranus’ rings
    First test flight of the shuttle orbiter. Discovery of Uranus’ rings
  • Venera 13 lands on Venus, and provides the first Venusian soil analysis.

    Venera 13 lands on Venus, and provides the first Venusian soil analysis.
    Venera 13 lands on Venus, and provides the first Venusian soil analysis.
  • Sally K. Ride is the first U.S. woman to travel in space, on Challenger mission STS-7.

    Sally K. Ride is the first U.S. woman to travel in space, on Challenger mission STS-7.
    Sally K. Ride is the first U.S. woman to travel in space, on Challenger mission STS-7.
  • The Sakigake probe is launched by Japan's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, becoming the first interplanetary probe as it rendezvous with Halley's Comet.

    The Sakigake probe is launched by Japan's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, becoming the first interplanetary probe as it rendezvous with Halley's Comet.
    The Sakigake probe is launched by Japan's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, becoming the first interplanetary probe as it rendezvous with Halley's Comet.
  • Soviet/International Phobos 2 launched, which orbits Mars to study its surface, atmosphere and magnetic field.

    Soviet/International Phobos 2 launched, which orbits Mars to study its surface, atmosphere and magnetic field.
    Soviet/International Phobos 2 launched, which orbits Mars to study its surface, atmosphere and magnetic field.
  • Galileo completes another flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, passing only 181 km from Io's south polar region.

    Galileo completes another flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, passing only 181 km from Io's south polar region.
    Galileo completes another flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, passing only 181 km from Io's south polar region.