Space exploration timeline

By em18277

  • Publication of Principia

    The English astronomer Sir Isaac Newton publishes the Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica. This three-volume work outlines Newton's three laws of motion as well as his law of universal gravitation and a derivation of Kepler's laws for the motion of the planets. The Principia is considered by many to be one of the most important scientific works ever written

  • 1813 First Exposition of Rocket Mechanics

    The British mathematician William Moore publishes Treatise on the Motion of Rockets. This work features the first exposition of rocket mechanics based on Newton's third law of motion

  • 1903 Exploration of Cosmic Space

    Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky publishesThe Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices. This is the first serious work to be published that shows space exploration to be theoretically possible.

  • 1914 Goddard's Rocket Patents

    U.S. rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard receives two landmark patents for rockets. The first described a multi-stage rocket and the second described a rocket fueled with gasoline and liquid nitrous oxide. These two patents would become major milestones in the history of rocketry.

  • 1919 Goddard's Famous Publication

    Robert Goddard publishes A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes. The book describes Goddard's mathematical theories of rocket flight and his research into solid-fuel and liquid-fuel rockets. It is regarded by many as one of the most important works in the science of rocketry and is believed to have influenced the work of German rocket pioneers Hermann Oberth and Wernher von Braun.

  • , 1924 Soviet Rocket Society Established

    The Soviet Union establishes the Society for Studies of Interplanetary Travel. This group would soon be renamed the Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications and would become the first Soviet rocket society.

  • First Liquid Fueled Rocket Launched

    U.S. rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard launches the first liquid fueled rocket from his Aunt Effie's farm in Auburn, Massachusetts. The 4-foot high rocket dubbed "Nell" reaches an altitude of 41 feet and a speed of about 60 miles per hour. The flight lasts only 2 1/2 seconds, but paves the way for the U.S. rocket program.

  • Rocket Club

    The Verein für Raumschiffahrt (Society for Space Travel) is formed as an association of amateur rocket enthusiasts in Germany. This group brings together many of the engineers who would eventually make important contributions to space flight.

  • Aggregate Rocket Series

    Work begins in Germany on the Aggregate series of rockets. Under the direction of German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun, this program eventually leads to development of the V-2 rocket, one of Nazi Germany's most powerful weapons of destruction.

  • First Suborbital Flight

    After two previous failures, Germany successfully launches their V-2 rocket. It is the first man-made object to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight, reaching an altitude of 100 km (62 miles). The V-2 is the progenitor of all modern rockets including the U.S. Apollo program's Saturn V moon rocket.

  • First U.S. High Altitude Flight

    The U.S. military achieves its first high-altitude space flight using a rebuilt German V-2 rocket. Launched from the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico, the flight reaches an altitude of 70 miles.

  • First American-Designed Rocket Reaches Space

    The United States launches its first American-designed rocket. Known as the Wac Corporal, the rocket reaches the edge of space at an altitude of 50 miles after being launched from the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico.

  • First Animals in Space

    Fruit flies become the first animals in space as a V-2 rocket is launched from the White Sands Proving Ground. Inside are several vials containing fruit flies, rye seeds, and cotton seeds. The flight reaches an altitude of 60 miles, and the payload is later retrieved intact

  • First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

    The Soviet Union launches the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Known as the R-7 Semyorka, it travels a total distance of 6000 km (3728 miles). A modified version of this missile would be used later to launch the world's first artificial satellite.

  • First artificial satellite, first signals from space (USSR)

  • First Artificial Satellite

    The USSR beat the United States into space by launching Sputnik 1. At 184 pounds, it was the world's first artificial satellite. Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth for only a short time, but it was a major accomplishment.

  • First Live Animal in Space

    Following the success of Sputnik 1, the Soviets launched Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. The spacecraft contained a pressurized container that housed a dog named Laika. The capsule contained a controlled atmosphere, food supply, waste collection system and biological sensors. Laika lived 8 days until the food supply ran out, and proved that animals could survive in space.

  • USA’s first artificial satel- lite (USA)

  • First American Satellite

    America launched its first satellite. Weighing only 30 pounds, Explorer 1 was launched into orbit by the Army on a Jupiter-C rocket. The satellite contained several scientific instruments. This mission discovered the radiation belts surrounding the Earth.

  • NASA is Born

    The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is founded, taking over the responsibilities of the existing National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics.

  • First Spacecraft to Achieve Solar Orbit

    The Russian satellite Luna 1 is launched in an attempt to hit the Moon. The spacecraft misses the Moon and is flung out into space by the Moon's gravity. It becomes the first man-made object to achieve an orbit around the Sun.

  • First human-made object to orbit the Sun (USSR)

  • First Spacecraft to Impact on the Moon

    The Russian satellite Luna 2 is launched. On September 13, it becomes the first man-made object to hit the Moon. The spacecraft was sterilized to avoid contaminating the Moon with terrestrial bacteria.

  • First impact into another planet or moon (theMoon) (USSR)

  • First View of Moon's Far Side

    The Russian satellite Luna 3 is launched, orbiting the Moon and photographing 70 percent of the Moon's far side.

  • First Weather Satellite

    Tiros 1, the first successful weather satellite, is launched by the United States. Two television cameras in the satellite returned views of clouds above the Earth. Tiros 1 was only operational for 78 days, but proved that satellites could be useful tools for surveying weather conditions from space.

  • First manned spaceflight and first manned orbitalflight (Yuri Gagarin) (USSR)

  • First manned spaceflightand first manned orbitalflight (Yuri Gagarin)USSR

    First manned spaceflight
    and first manned orbital
    flight (Yuri Gagarin)
    USSR

  • USA’s first spaceflight USA with humans (Alan Shepherd)USA’s first spaceflight with humans (Alan Shepherd) (USA)

  • USA’s first spaceflightwith humans (AlanShepherd)USA

    USA’s first spaceflight
    with humans (Alan
    Shepherd)
    USA

  • USA’s first orbital flight with humans (JohnGlenn) (USA)

  • USA’s first orbital flightwith humans (JohnGlenn)USA

    USA’s first orbital flight
    with humans (John
    Glenn)
    USA

  • First planetary flyby(Venus)USA

    First planetary flyby
    (Venus)
    USA

  • First woman in space, firstwoman in orbit (ValentinaTereshkova)USSR

    First woman in space, first
    woman in orbit (Valentina
    Tereshkova)
    USSR

  • First extra-vehicularactivity ("spacewalk")(Aleksei Leonov)USSR

    First extra-vehicular
    activity ("spacewalk")
    (Aleksei Leonov)
    USSR

  • First soft landing on anotherplanet or moon (theMoon), first photos fromanother world

    First soft landing on another
    planet or moon (the
    Moon), first photos from
    another world

  • First impact into anotherplanet (Venus)USSR

    First impact into another
    planet (Venus)
    USSR

  • First artificial satellitearound another world (theMoon)USSR

    First artificial satellite
    around another world (the
    Moon)
    USSR

  • USA’s first soft landingon the Moon, USA’s firstphotos from the Moon

    USA’s first soft landing
    on the Moon, USA’s first
    photos from the Moon

  • First humans to orbit anotherworld (the Moon)(James Lovell, Frank Borman,Bill Anders)

    First humans to orbit another
    world (the Moon)
    (James Lovell, Frank Borman,
    Bill Anders)

  • First humans on the Moon(Neil Armstrong, BuzzAldrin)USA

    First humans on the Moon
    (Neil Armstrong, Buzz
    Aldrin)
    USA

  • First automatic sample return from the Moon

    First automatic sample return from the Moon

  • First lunar rover

    First lunar rover

  • First soft landing on another planet (Venus)First signals from another planet

    First soft landing on another planet (Venus)
    First signals from another planet

  • First space station

    First space station (USSR)

  • First impact into Mars

    First impact into Mars (USSR)

  • First Reusable manned spacecraft (orbital)

    First Reusable manned spacecraft (orbital)

  • First Venus soil samples & sound recording of another world

    First Venus soil samples & sound recording of another world

  • First spacecraft beyond the orbit of Neptune (first spacecraft to pass beyond all Solar System planets)

    First spacecraft beyond the orbit of Neptune (first spacecraft to pass beyond all Solar System planets)

  • First photograph of the whole solar system[4]

    First photograph of the whole solar system[4]

  • record longest duration spaceflight (437.7 days) set by Valeri Polyakov

    record longest duration spaceflight (437.7 days) set by Valeri Polyakov

  • First orbiting of an asteroid

    First orbiting of an asteroid

  • First orbit of Saturn

    First orbit of Saturn

  • First soft landing on Titan

    First soft landing on Titan

  • First orbit of Mercury

    First orbit of Mercury (USA)

  • Nuclear-powered NASA rover successfully lands on Mars to seek out life clues.

    Nuclear-powered NASA rover successfully lands on Mars to seek out life clues. (USA)