Space Timeline

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

The space race finally begins as the U.S.S.R sends the first satellite into space. It's objective was to orbit the Earth. The mission lasted 92 days.

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

The first U.S satellite to be sent into space. The objective was to orbit Earth. It also proved the existence of the Van Allen belts. The mission lasted 111 days.

Luna 1

Jan 4, 1959

The first firing of a rocket in Earth orbit. It also reached moon vicinity. (U.S.S.R)

Explorer 6

Aug 7, 1959

First photograph from Earth orbit.The mission lasted 60 days. (U.S)

Luna 2

Sep 13, 1959

First spacecraft to impact into the moon. (U.S.S.R)

Luna 3

Oct 4, 1959

First photos taken of the far side of the moon. The mission lasted for 18 days. (U.S.S.R)

Venera 1

Feb 12, 1961

First planetary flyby (Venus). (U.S.S.R)

Vostok 1

Apr 12, 1961

First human spaceflight. The mission was to orbit Earth. The mission lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes. (U.S.S.R)

Mercury-Redstone 3

May 5, 1961

First human piloted space flight. The objective was to orbit Earth. The mission lasted 15 minutes and 28 seconds. (U.S.A)

Mariner 2

Aug 27, 1962

First successful planetary flyby (Venus). The mission lasted 4 months and 7 days. (U.S.A)

Vostok 6

Jun 16, 1963

First spacecraft to carry a woman. The mission was to enter a low Earth orbit. The mission lasted 2 days and 22 hours. (U.S.S.R)

Mariner 4

Nov 28, 1964

First Mars flyby and photos. The mission lasted 8 years and 23 days. (U.S.A)

Luna 9

Jan 31, 1966

The first unmanned soft landing on the moon. The mission lasted 6 days. (U.S.S.R)

Luna 10

Mar 31, 1966

First artificial satellite to orbit around moon. The mission lasted 60 days. (U.S.S.R)

Surveyor 1

May 30, 1966

First U.S soft landing on the moon and photos from the moon. The mission lasted 65 hours.

Apollo 1

Feb 21, 1967

Start of U.S Apollo missions. The mission failed after a fire broke out, resulting in deaths of the crew.

Apollo 8

Dec 21, 1968

The first piloted orbital mission of the moon. The mission lasted 6 days and 3 hours. (U.S)

Apollo 11

Jul 16, 1969

First humans walk on the surface of the moon and collect samples. The mission lasted 8 days and 5 hours. (U.S)

Venera 7

Aug 16, 1970

The first soft landing on another planet (Venus) and signals sent from it. The mission lasted 120 days. (U.S.S.R)

Lunokhod 1

Nov 10, 1970

First lunar rover, to analyze lunar regolith and take panoramic photos of the surface. The mission lasted 10 months and 4 days.(U.S.S.R)

Salyut 1

Apr 19, 1971

First space station of any kind to be put into orbit. The mission lasted 175 days. (U.S.S.R)

Mars 2

May 19, 1971

The first space probe to make impact into Mars. The mission lasted 461 days. (U.S.S.R)

Mariner 9

May 30, 1971

The first unmanned spacecraft to maintain orbit of other planets (Mars). The mission lasted 1 years 4 months and 27 days. (U.S.A)

Pioneer 10

Mar 3, 1972

First human made object send on escape trajectory away from sun. Objective to enter asteroid belt and leave solar system. The mission lasted 30 years 10 months and 22 days. (U.S.A)

Apollo 17

Dec 7, 1972

Last Apollo mission. Objective was to survey geological features and samples from the lunar surface. The mission lasted 12 days and 13 hours. (U.S.A)