Timeline of Space Exploration - 15 “Firsts” of Space History

Galileo's Invention

Jan 1, 1609

He created the first astronomical telescope

First American Designed Rocket Reaches Space

May 22, 1946

The U.S.A launches their first up into space. Called the Wac Corporal.

First Animal in space

Feb 20, 1947

Fruit flies were the first animals sent into space. The fruit flies were in vials. They were sent into space be the V-2 rocket. From the White Launching Sands Proving Grounds.

Unmanned test

Feb 9, 1956

Unmanned Manhigh test flight, thermal insulation test with mockup capsule reached 85,000 feet. ( USA)

Dogs lanched

May 31, 1956

Launch of two dogs, Malyshka and Linda, from Kapustin Yar aboard R-1A rocket reached 62 miles. ( USSR)

First successful flight

Aug 21, 1957

First successful flight of intercontinental missile

First Dog Sent To Space

Nov 3, 1957

Laika was a Soviet space dog who became one of the first animals in space, and the first animal to orbit the Earth.

Monkey

Jan 4, 1959

Mercury little Joe 2 flight from Wallops Island , VA, capsule carried Rhesus Monkey " Sam"

First Astronaut In Space

Apr 9, 1961

First man ever in space from Russia named Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.

First piloted space flight

May 5, 1961

First human-piloted space flight–(Alan Shepard) First human-crewed suborbital flight

First impact

Mar 1, 1966

First impact into another planet ( Venus)

Flyby

Nov 12, 1980

Saturn flyby (closest approach 124,000 kilometers), close encounter of Titan and encounters with a dozen others.

Reusable spacecraft

Apr 12, 1981

First reusable manned spacecraft ( orbital)

First women in space

Jun 16, 2015

First women in space Valentiana Tereshkova

First food grown in space

Aug 10, 2015

Lettuce was the first food, grown& eaten in space