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1232
Chines invention of fire arrows (fireworks)
The first Rockets where invented by the Chinese in a defense against the mongol invaders. The invention of fireworks also came from the Chinese -
First multi-staged rockets
A German firework maker named Johann schmidlap invents the two-staged to reach higher altitudes. A large skyrockets (first stage) cacrries a smaller rocket (second stage). -
Newtons laws of motion published
Sir Isaac Newton published his first book which contains his three laws of motion and lays the scientific foundations of modern rocketry, named Principia. -
1792-1799 Rockets revival
Indian rockets used against the British catch the attention of Colonel William Congreve. Rockets are subsequently designed for military use by the British military. -
Space exploration proposed
Russian schoolteacher Konstantin Tsiokovsky puts forward the idea of using rockets for space exploration. He suggests liquid propellants would gain greater range. -
Successful liquid-propellant rockets
American Robert H Goddard flies a rocket powered by liquid oxygen and gasoline. Goddard goes on to build bigger rockets and higher rockets -
V-2 Rockets
Ballistic missiles are developed by German engineers led by Wernher Von Braun during the Second World War. -
First satellite- Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union launches the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite. This marks the first significant success of the space race between the world’s two superpowers. -
NASA founded
The United States formally organises its space programme and calls it National Aeronautics and Space Administration. -
First man to orbit Earth
Russian Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to orbit Earth. -
Mariner probes to Venus
The first successful interplanetary probes are launched. Two Mariner probes travel to Venus. -
Moon Landing
Apollo 11 is the first space flight to land people on the Moon. Neil Armstrong is the first astronaut to set foot on the Moon. 12 astronauts walk on the Moon during 6 missions. Ed Cernan is the last man to step foot on the Moon in 1972. -
First Space Shuttle launched
NASA launches its first Space Shuttle. These are designed as reusable vehicles that would increase accessibility to orbit. Space Shuttles have been used to place many satellites into orbit and to construct the International Space Station. The final space shuttle was launched in July 2011. -
First Private launch into Earth's orbit
SpaceX, a private company working towards commercial space travel, launches Falcon 9. This unmanned capsule orbits the Earth twice before landing in the Pacific Ocean. -
Juno launches to Jupiter
Juno is launched to begin its 5-year journey to Jupiter. -
Private Companies-2012 0nwards
Private companies, such as Space X, Orbital ATK, Virgin Galactic and New Zealand company Rocket Lab, are increasingly active in the space industry.