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Sputnik 2
The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 was launched with a dog named Laika on board. Laika did not survive the voyage. -
Sputnik 5
The Soviet craft Sputnik 5 was launched, carrying the dogs Strelka and Belka. They became the first living beings to survive a trip into space. -
Yuri Gagarin
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. -
Alan Shepard
Astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space -
John Glenn
Astronaut John Glenn became the first American in orbit. -
first wowman in space
Valentina Nikolayeva Tereshkova became the first woman in space. -
Pictures of Mars
The spacecraft Mariner 4 transmitted the first pictures of Mars. -
orbitting space craft
The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 was launched and later became the first spacecraft to orbit the moon and return to Earth. -
first men on the moon
Neil Armstrong and "Buzz" Aldrin became the first men on the moon. -
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SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN SPACE EXPLORATION
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probe on Mars
The Soviet Venera 7 became the first probe to land on Venus. -
Moon Rover
The moon rover was driven on the moon for the first time. -
Space Station
The U.S. launched its first space station, Skylab. -
Launch of the first of two spacecraft
Launch of the first of two spacecraft called Pioneer Venus, which would study the Venusian atmosphere. -
Young make the first mission
Aboard the space shuttle Columbia, Robert L. Crippen and John W. Young make the first mission in NASA's space shuttle program. -
first American woman in space
--Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-7 aboard the space shuttle Challenger. -
first black man in space
Guion S. Bluford, Jr., becomes first black man in space with launch of shuttle mission STS-8 aboard the space shuttle Challenger -
space shuttle explodes
First major catastrophe for NASA, when space shuttle Challenger (mission STS-51L) explodes 73 seconds after takeoff with seven crewmembers aboard -
Pathfinder lands on Mars
Pathfinder lands on Mars. The rover Sojourner would go on to explore the Martian surface for more than 80 days -
Space Station is launched.
First piece of the International Space Station is launched. -
collect samples of atoms from solar wind.
--Launch of Genesis, which would collect samples of atoms from solar wind. Genesis would be the first attempt to return samples to Earth since the Apollo moon mission in 1972. -
first Israeli astronaut, is lost after a 16-day mission
Crew of seven astronauts, including the first Israeli astronaut, is lost after a 16-day mission when the Columbia space shuttle explodes on re-entry. The accident was later attributed to damage sustained to foam insulation and has led NASA to understand how to safely repair similar damage on later missions. -
Mars Exploration Rovers
Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity launch. -
Spaceship one reaches outer space
SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately built craft to reach outer space.