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Golden Age of Science Fiction
The first Golden Age of Science Fiction—often recognized as the period from 1938 to 1946—was an era during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published. In the history of science fiction, the Golden Age follows the "pulp era" of the 1920s and 30s, and precedes New Wave science fiction of the 1960s and 70s. -
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Space/Plutonium Age of Science Fiction
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Color Television introduced to the USA
On June 25, 1951, CBS broadcast the very first commercial color TV program. Unfortunately, nearly no one could watch it on their black-and-white televisions. -
Modern DNA Introduced
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick suggested what is now accepted as the first correct double-helix model of DNA structure in the journal Nature. -
First Hydrogen Bomb Tested
The United States detonates the world's first thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb, on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific. The test gave the United States a short-lived advantage in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. -
Sci-Fi Magazine Continued Bust
American magazine boom begins to collapse, with "Planet", "Startling", and "Thrilling Wonder Stories" all ending publication -
First Artificial Satellite
The Soviet Union with the launch of Sputnik 1, started a new era—the space age—. The launch grabs the world's attention, catching the U.S. off-guard. -
Laser, invented by Townes & Schawlow
In 1958, Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow theorized and published papers about a visible laser, an invention that would use infrared and/or visible spectrum light, however, they did not proceed with any research at the time. -
NASA Signed Into Law
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 is the United States federal statute that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. -
Rocket plane flown over 2,200 miles per hour
The North American X-15 was a rocket-powered aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft. -
First The Twilight Zone Episode
"Where Is Everybody?" is the first episode of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It was first broadcast on October 2, 1959. First episode to air on TV was 1961. -
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New Wave Era of Science Fiction
New Wave is a term applied to science fiction produced in the 1960s and 1970s and characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content, a "literary" or artistic sensibility, and a focus on "soft" as opposed to hard science. -
First Weather Satellite
TIROS I (or TIROS-1) was the first successful low-Earth orbital weather satellite, and the first of a series of Television Infrared Observation Satellites. -
Radar reflector satellite (Echo 1)
Project Echo was the first passive communications satellite experiment. Each of the two American spacecraft, launched in 1960 and 1964, was a metalized balloon satellite acting as a passive reflector of microwave signals. -
"Astounding" gradually changes its name to "Analog"
Astounding sci-fi magazine changes name to Analog -
First Human in Space
Soviet Union launches cosmonaut Yuri A. Gagarin on a 108-minute flight. -
First American in Space
U.S. launches astronaut Alan Shepard on a 15-minute suborbital flight. -
The first live transatlantic television by satellite
Belonging to AT&T, the original Telstar was part of a multi-national agreement between AT&T (US), Bell Telephone Laboratories (US), NASA (US), GPO (UK) and the National PTT(France) to develop experimental satellite communications over the Atlantic Ocean. -
First Dr.Who Episode Airs
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First Spacewalk
Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov a retired Soviet Russian cosmonaut and Air Force Major General who, on 18 March 1965, became the first human to conduct an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), also known as a space walk. -
First Manned Moon Landing
The lunar module of Apollo 11 lands down on the moon. Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., descend to the surface. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," Armstrong famously said.
