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Period: to
100 years ago.
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Sputnik 1
The first man-made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958. -
Luna 1
First man-made satellite to orbit the moon, is launched by the U.S.S.R. -
Soviet Luna 9
The first spacecraft to soft-land on the moon. -
American Mariner 10
American Mariner 10 is launched, on the first dual-planet mission. Over the next year, it returned photographs of Venus and Mercury. -
Soviet Venera 15
Soviet Venera 15 returns the first high-resolution images of the Venus polar area, and compiled a thermal map of most of the northern hemisphere. -
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour launches on STS-61, making the first on-orbit service of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). -
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia lifts off for the shortest shuttle flight in 12 years (four days). -
Globalstar 1, 2, 3, and 4
The four satellites Globalstar 1, 2, 3, and 4 are the first in Globalstar's planned 44-satellite constellation of medium-Earth-orbit (~900 miles altitude) communications satellites for providing voice and data links worldwide from both remote and home telephones. This system is planned as a direct competitor to Iridium's cluster, which began launching in May of 1997. -
Space Shuttle Atlantis
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off for the International Space Station for maintenance on the crane and a faulty antenna, installation of a Russian boom arm, handrails and upgrades to the ventilation system, and delivery of new batteries, supplies and equipment. -
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched carrying the Raffaello logistics module back to the ISS with new supplies.
