Space shuttle exploration

A Brief Space Exploration Timeline

By kay_will
  • First Satellite: Sputnik I

    First Satellite: Sputnik I

    The Soviet Union sent a first satellite into space, Sputnik I. Citation: Archives.gov

  • First Animal in Space: Laika

    Sputnik 2 was launched with a dog named Laika on board, which did not survive the voyage. Citation: Archives.gov

  • U.S. Space Law: NASA Act

    US Space Act was signed into law in 1958.
    Citation: UNOOSA.org, Space Policy
  • The United States Space Program: NASA

    The United States Space Program: NASA

    Citation: NASA

  • First Animals to survive the voyage to space: Strelka and Belka

    Sputnik 5 was launched. It was carrying the dogs Strelka and Belka., who became the first animals to survive a trip into space.
    Archives.gov
  • First Man in Space: Yuri Gagarin

    First Man in Space: Yuri Gagarin

    Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut, became the first human in space. Citation: Archives.gov

  • First American in Space: Alan Shepard

    Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space. Citation: Archives.gov
  • First American in Orbit: John Glenn

    First American in Orbit: John Glenn

    John Glenn, U.S. Astronaut, became the first American in orbit. Citation: Archives.gov
  • First Humans on the Moon

    First Humans on the Moon

    Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin, U.S. astronauts, became the first men on the moon. Citation: Archives.gov

  • First Moon Rover: Lunar Rover

    The moon rover was driven on the moon for the first time.
    Citation: Archives.gov
  • Voyager 1 and Voyager 2

    Voyager 1 and Voyager 2

    Voyagers 1 and 2 were launched. They both carry a message from Earth. "The Voyager message is carried by a phonograph record, a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds (including greetings from 55 different languages spoken on Earth) and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth."

    Citation: NASA
  • First Shuttle launched: Columbia

    First Shuttle launched: Columbia

    Columbia became the first Space Shuttle to be launched. Citation: Archives.gov

  • Challenger Disaster

    The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded seconds after liftoff. Citation: Archives.gov
  • Hubble Space Telescope

    Hubble Space Telescope

    The Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. Citation: Archives.org
  • International Space Station

    International Space Station

    The assembly of the International Space Station began. Citation: Archives.gov
  • First Mars Rover: Curiosity

    First Mars Rover: Curiosity

    NASA's Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars, carrying an array of advanced new instruments and experiments.
    Citation: Archives.gov