Stroh-2-HOSTT By cmsnorth Oct 4, 1957 The first man-made object to earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R, and remains in orbit untill January 2,1958 Nov 3, 1957 Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days , in orbit is launched by U.S.S.R, and remains in orbut until April 13, 1958 Mar 5, 1958 Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit Mar 17, 1958 Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into orbit and continues to transmit for 3 years May 15, 1958 Sputnik 3 is launched by the U.S.S.R Apr 1, 1960 Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite in launched by the US Jul 31, 1964 US ranger 7 relays the first close range photographs of the moon. Feb 3, 1966 soviet luna 9 is the first space craft to soft land on the moon. Sep 15, 1968 soviet zond 5 is launched, the first spacecraft to orbit the moon and return. May 17, 1974 NASAlaunches the first synchronous meteorological satellite, SMS-1