Timeline drawing

Orbitational History

By Duarda

  • Kepler uses the term ‘satellite’

    Kepler uses the term ‘satellite’
    German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) uses the term ‘satellite’ to describe the moons orbiting Jupiter.

  • Newton and gravity

    Newton and gravity
    Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727) publishes Principia in which he states the three laws of motion and describes universal gravity. This lays the foundation for our understanding of rockets, satellites and orbits.

  • First fictional artificial satellite

    First fictional artificial satellite
    The first fictional depiction of satellites being launched into orbit are published in Edward Everett Hale’s short story The Brick Moon.

  • Satellite communications system proposed

    Satellite communications system proposed
    Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) publishes an article that shows how geostationary satellites could be used for worldwide radio and television broadcasts and communication.

  • First artificial satellite launch

    First artificial satellite launch
    The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit around the Earth.

  • First successful weather satellite

    First successful weather satellite
    NASA launches Tiros-1, the first weather satellite considered a success. It transmits infrared images of Earth’s cloud cover and is able to detect and chart hurricanes.

  • First person to orbit Earth

    First person to orbit Earth
    Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934–1968) becomes the first person to orbit the Earth in his Vostok spacecraft.

  • First communications satellite

    First communications satellite
    The first live transatlantic telecast is broadcast using Telstar-1, a low-orbit satellite.

  • Beginning of Landsat programme

    Beginning of Landsat programme
    The Earth Resources Technology Satellite is launched. Landsat instruments acquire millions of images that are used to evaluate natural and human changes to the Earth.

  • Hubble Space Telescope

    Hubble Space Telescope
    The Hubble Space Telescope is carried into orbit by the Space Shuttle. Its orbit outside the Earth’s atmosphere allows it to take sharp images that lead to breakthroughs in astrophysics.

  • First GPS constellation

    First GPS constellation
    The first global positioning system constellation becomes operational. GPS is a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth.

  • International Space Station launched

    International Space Station launched
    The first component of the modular International Space Station is launched. It serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory.
  • Period: to

    Launching of Starlink-1

    Starlink is an ongoing project by SpaceX, which aims to build a world wide internet signal, by building a satellite constellation. As of 2020, 775 satellites have been launched.