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Sputnik 1
October 4, 1957 - 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. -
First dog in Space
Laika was the first dog in Space -
Sputnik 2
November 3, 1957 - Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, 1958. -
Explorer 1
January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt. -
Explorer 2
March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit. -
Vanguard 1
March 17, 1958 - Vanguard 1 satellite is launched into orbit, and continues to transmit for 3 years. -
Sputnik 3
May 15, 1958 - Sputnik 3 is launched by the U.S.S.R. -
NASA
October 1, 1958 - N.A.S.A. is founded, taking over existing National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics. -
Pioneer 1
October 11, 1958 - Pioneer 1, U.S. - IGY space probe, launched to a height of 70,700 miles. -
Luna 1
January 2, 1959 - Luna 1, first man-made satellite to orbit the moon, is launched by the U.S.S.R. -
Pioneer 4
March 3, 1959 - Pioneer 4, fourth U.S.-IGY space probe was launched by a Juno II rocket, and achieved an earth-moon trajectory, passing within 37,000 miles of the moon. It then fell into a solar orbit, becoming the first U.S. sun orbiter. -
Luna 2
September 12, 1959 - Luna 2 is launched, impacting on the moon on September 13 carrying a copy of the Soviet coat of arms, and becoming the first man-made object to hit the moon. -
Luna 3
October 4, 1959 - Luna 3 translunar satellite is launched, orbiting the moon and photographing 70 percent of the far side of the moon. -
Tiros 1
April 1, 1960 - Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched by the U.S. -
Dicoverer
August 18, 1960 - Discoverer XIV launches the first U.S. camera-equipped Corona spy satellite. -
Gemini 7
December 4, 1965 - Gemini 7 is launched carrying Frank Borman and James A. Lovell, Jr., making 206 orbits around Earth and proving a trip to the Moon possible. -
Mariner 9
May 30, 1971 - The United States launches Mariner 9, which becomes the first spacecraft to survey Mars from orbit. -
Apollo 18
July, 1975 - American Apollo (18) and Soviet Soyuz 19 dock, the first international spacecraft rendezvous. -
Challenger
April 4, 1983 - The space shuttle Challenger lifts off for its first mission (STS-6) and has the first American space walk in nine years. Crew: Paul Weitz, Karol Bobko, Donald Peterson, and Story Musgrave. -
Challenger
January 28, 1986 - The space shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after liftoff of mission STS-51L. -
Discovery
June 2, 1998 - Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on a 10-day mission, its 24th and the last shuttle docking with Mir. -
Deep Space 1
September 22, 2001 - Deep Space 1 successfully completes its flyby of comet 19P/Borrelly. -
Galileo
October 16, 2001 - Galileo completes another flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, passing only 181 km from Io's south polar region. -
Endeavour
December 5, 2001 - Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched carrying the Raffaello logistics module back to the ISS with new supplies.
