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Fisrt idea is created.
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky publishes a paper in Russia that mathematically demonstrates how to achieve liftoff with liquid fuels.
References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
sputnik I
On October 4 the Soviet Union launches Sputnik I using a liquid-fueled rocket built by Sergei Korolev. About the size of a basketball, the first artificial Earth satellite weighs 184 pounds and takes about 98 minutes to complete one orbit. On November 3 the Soviets launch Sputnik II, carrying a much heavier payload that includes a passenger, a dog named Laika.
References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachie -
United States launches its first satellite
The United States launches its first satellite, the 30.8-pound Explorer 1. During this mission, Explorer 1 carries an experiment designed by James A.Van Allen, a physicist at the University of Iowa, which documents the existence of radiation zones encircling Earth within the planet’s magnetic field. The Van Allen Radiation Belt, as it comes to be called, partially dictates the electrical charges in the atmosphere and the solar radiation that reaches Earth. References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greate -
Luna 3 probe flies past the Moon
The Soviet Union’s Luna 3 probe flies past the Moon and takes the first pictures of its far side. This satellite carries an automated film developing unit and then relays the pictures back to Earth via video camera.References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
On April 12, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, in Vostok I, becomes the first human in space. Launching from Baikonur Cosmodrome, he completes one orbit of Earth in a cabin that contains radios, instrumentation, life-support equipment, and an ejection seat. Three small portholes give him a view of space. At the end of his 108-minute ride, during which all flight controls are operated by ground crews, he parachutes to safety in KazakhstanReferences
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of -
Edward H. White, Jr. is the first American to perform a spacewalk
The second piloted Gemini mission, Gemini IV, stays aloft for four days, (June 3-7), and astronaut Edward H. White, Jr. performs the first extravehicular activity (EVA)—or spacewalk—by an American. This critical task will have to be mastered before a landing on the Moon. References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Apollo 8 flight to the Moon views Earth from lunar orbit.
Humans first escape Earth’s gravity on the Apollo 8 flight to the Moon and view Earth from lunar orbit. Apollo 8 takes off from the Kennedy Space Center on December 21 with three astronauts aboard—Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William A. Anders.
Apollo 8 flight to the Moon views Earth from lunar orbit. -
Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the Moon
Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the Moon.
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Pioneer 10 sent to the outer solar system
Pioneer 10, the first mission to be sent to the outer solar system, is launched on March 2 by an Atlas-Centaur rocket.
References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Pioneer 10 sent to the outer solar system
Pioneer 10, the first mission to be sent to the outer solar system, is launched on March 2 by an Atlas-Centaur rocket. The spacecraft makes its closest approach to Jupiter.
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Frist Orbital spaceflight
STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on 12 April 1981 and returned on 14 April, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 37 times.
References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Space Shuttle Challenger destroyed during launch
On the 25th shuttle flight, the Space Shuttle Challenger is destroyed during its launch from the Kennedy Space Center .
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope goes into orbit on April 25.
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Expedition One of the International Space Station
On October 31 Expedition One of the International Space Station is launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642 -
Syncom communications satellites launched
On February 14 NASA launches the first of a series of Syncom communications satellites into near-geosynchronous orbit, following procedures developed by Harold Rosen of Hughes Aircraft.References
Spacecraft Timeline - Greatest Engineering Achievements of the Twentieth Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.greatachievements.org/?id=3642
