Laika (a Soviet space dog) becomes the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit
Neil Armstrong becomes the first human to set foot on the moon
Sally K. Ride is the first U.S. woman to travel in space, on Challenger
The Space Shuttle Challenger, carrying Christa McAuliffe (the first teacher to fly in space) lifts off and seventy three seconds into the mission, the Challenger explodes, killing the entire crew
The Edwin P. Hubble Space Telescope is launched
Discovery of the Kuiper Belt
Construction begins on the International Space Station
The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry, resulting in the death of all seven crew members
The rover Spirit lands on Mars
The rover Opportunity lands on Mars
Pluto and 4 other objects identified as dwarf planets
