Space Timelines By s-obarclay Oct 4, 1957 Sputnik Launch Fist man made object ever released into space Jul 21, 1961 Mercury Probe mercury probe`s first flight Jul 22, 1962 Miner 1 Launch Oct 2, 1964 Akmaz (space shuttles) May 8, 1971 Mariner 8 lanch Mar 2, 1972 Pioneer 10 launch Jul 26, 1972 Idea behind space shuttles was created Sep 9, 1975 Viking 1 Launch Aug 7, 1976 Viking 2 Launch Aug 20, 1977 Voyager 2 Probe Launched May 4, 1989 Magellan Probe Launch Apr 24, 1990 Magellan Probes Arrival Oct 15, 1997 Cassini Launch Jun 10, 2003 Mars Exploration (Spirit) Jul 7, 2003 Mars Exploration (oppertunity) Nov 26, 2011 Mars Exploration (curiosity)