Space Exploration

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

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

US Mariner 2

Dec 14, 1962

the first successful planetary spacecraft, flies past Venus, and enters a solar orbit

Soviet Luna 9

Feb 3, 1966

is the first spacecraft to soft-land on the moon.

Neil Armstrong

Jul 20, 1969

Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. make the first manned soft landing on the Moon, and the first moonwalk, using Apollo 11

American Mariner 9

Nov 13, 1971

American Mariner 9 (launched May 30, 1971) is the first spacecraft to orbit another planet, Mars. Over the next year, it maps 100 percent of the Martian surface.