Tim By Erik341 Period: Jan 1, 1900 to Dec 31, 2013 Tim Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Dec 31, 2013 Tim Oct 4, 1957 Soviet Union launches Sputnik I Jan 31, 1958 United States launches Explorer I from Cape Canaveral in Florida Oct 1, 1958 NASA is formed after Congress passes the National Aeronautics and Space Act. Jul 16, 1959 Launch of Apollo 11 May 25, 1961 U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces the goal of sending astronauts to the moon before the end of the decade. Nov 9, 1967 First test flight of the Saturn V rocket, which would carry dozens of spacecraft into space in the years to come Jul 20, 1969 --Astronauts Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Neil Armstrong become the first men to walk on the moon. May 4, 1973 United States launches its first experimental space station, the Skylab Jul 15, 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project is the first international manned space flight to test out cooperated space rescue and docking. Aug 20, 1975 Launch of Viking 1 Aug 20, 1977 Launch of Voyager 2 Jun 18, 1983 Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-7 aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Jan 28, 1986 First major catastrophe for NASA Feb 19, 1986 Mir space station launches Dec 4, 1996 --Launch of Mars Pathfinder Jul 4, 1997 Pathfinder lands on Mars Nov 20, 1998 First piece of the International Space Station is launched Aug 8, 2001 Launch of Genesis Jul 7, 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity launch Aug 4, 2007 Phoenix lander launches on its way to explore the northern pole of Mars.