Timeline: Space exploration

Jan 1, 1610

First spotting of the moon through a telescope

Galileo Galilei was the one who spotted it. This was important because it showed a working telescope.

Mar 16, 1926

First liquid fueled rocket

This was important because it was lighter and it was more effective than gunpowder. Dr. Robert H. Goddard was the one who created it.

Jan 1, 1946

First Research flight into Space

This was important because this was the first time someone launched a rocket into space for information. It was launched by the USA.

Feb 20, 1947

First animal launched into space (fruit fly)

This was important because it was the first living thing that went into space from earth. The USA was the country that launched the flys.

Oct 4, 1957

First artificial satellite launched into space

This is important because this was the first to go into space and it brought back signals. The USSR launched it even though the USA was supposed launch it.

Oct 4, 1959

First rocket pit into orbit around Earth

This was important because it was the first man-made object put into orbit and because it took pictures of the moon. This was launched by the USSR and it was called the lunar 3 becasue the first two were unsuccessful.

Aug 19, 1960

First animals to return safely from space

This was important because these were the first living things to go to space and come back. 2 dogs, 1 rabbit, 42 mice and fruit flys. Launched by the USSR

Apr 12, 1961

First human space flight

This was important because it was the first human in space. This rocket was launched and manned by the USSR.

Jul 16, 1969

First human on the moon

This was important because we got a human on the moon. It was launched by the USA and the space craft was called Apollo 11.

Apr 19, 1971

First space station in space

This was important because it allowed us to go in space to do studies on things that happen in space. Launched by the USSR.

Jan 1, 1981

First reusable space craft

This was the first reusable spacecraft so we didn't have to use new ones. Made by the USA

Jul 1, 1989

First spacecraft to go past the orbit of Neptune

This is important because this is the first time anything from earth has been past Neptune. This spacecraft was built and launched by the USA.

Aug 6, 2012

The space rover successfully lands on mars

This was the first thing on mars from earth so now we can explore mars with the rover. This wa made by the USA.

Apr 10, 2015

First food grown and eaten in space

The first food grown in space is important because now we know that we can grow food so this could help for longer missions to other planets. This was grown by Americans and tested in the USA.

Jul 14, 2015