Time Line of the Discovery of the Solar System

Time Line of the Discovery of the Solar System

Period: Jan 1, 1610 to Dec 31, 2011

Galileo's Telescope

Jan 7, 1610

Galileo's Telescope<a
Galileo didnt actually invent the telescope, he improved it after Dutch scientists created it. Galileo improved the telescope so that he would be able to look at Jupiter's Moons.

Space X

Jan 1, 1906

Space XSpace X is basically how scientists like saying that there are other planets beyond Neptune, Uranus and the former planet but now dwarf planet, Pluto. Percival Lowell was the man known for the hypothesis of Planet X and Space X

Sputnik

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik
This was when Russia (the Soviet Union then) launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space. This et off the Space Race between the USSR and the USA.

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral. Explorer 1 discovered the Earth's radiation belt.

Explorer 2

Mar 5, 1958

Explorer 2 was launched on March 5, 1958. When Explorer 2 was launched it failed to reach orbit unlike its twin, Explorer 1.

Vanguard 1

Mar 17, 1958

Vanguard 1 was launched into space and orbit on March 17, 1958 from the USA. Vanguard 1 lost communication in 1964. Vanguard 1 is till in orbit today and is the longest orbiting manmade satellite. Vanguard 1 is also the first solar powered satellite.

NASA

Jul 29, 1958

NASA
NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA was formed on July 29, 1958 and became operational on October 1, 1958. One of NASA's most famous missions was Apollo 11. They landed the first human on the moon! NASA is mainly responsible for space exploration, and aeronautics.

U.S Lunar Orbiter 1

Aug 14, 1958

U.S Orbiter 1 was launched on August 14, 1958. U.S Orbiter 1 went up into space, entered moon orbit, and returned with the first picture of Earth from the distance of the moon.

Alan Shepard

May 5, 1961

Alan Shepard
Alan Shepard became the first American to fly in space on May 5, 1961.

US Ranger 7

Jul 31, 1964

US Ranger 7
US Ranger 7 was the first probe to take to take pictures of the moon and send them back to Earth.

Gemini 3

Mar 23, 1965

Gemini 3 was the first manned mission in NASA's Gemini Program. Gemini 3 was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL. The spacecratf's name was Molly Brown.

Mariner 4

Jul 14, 1965

Mariner 4 was launched by the US on July 14, 1965. Mariner 4 was launched to take pictures of Mars. Mariner 4 came back with the first close range pictures of Mars.

Surveyor 1

Jun 6, 1966

Surveyor 1 was the first U.S. spacecraft to "soft" land on the moon.

Apollo 11

Jul 20, 1969

Apollo 11
This was when Neil Armtrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first humans and the first Americans to land on the moon.

Mariner 9 (Planetary Orbiters)

May 30, 1971

Mariner 9
Mariner 9 was launched on May 30, 1971 to explore, orbit, take pictures and observe Mars.

Apollo 15 Moon Rover

Jul 30, 1971

Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin drive the first moon rover ever. The next year Harrison Schmitt dove a similar moon rover.

Viking 1 (Planetary Orbiter)

Aug 20, 1975

Viking 1 and 2 (Planetary Orbiters)
Viking 1 was launched on August 20, 1975. Viking 1 took thousands of pictures and observed Mars for fours years. Viking 1 also landed on Mars and observed it.

Viking 2

Sep 9, 1975

Viking 2 was launched on September 9, 1975 to explore Mars. Viking 2 took over 16,000 pictures of Mars surface and over 700 orbits of Mars. Viking 2 also discovered water frost.

Voyager 2 (Planetary Orbiters)

Aug 20, 1977

Voyager 1 and 2
Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. Voyager 2 visited Uranus and Neptune. Voyager 2 is now in interstellar space exploring and still gathering information and taking pictures.

Challenger

Jan 28, 1986

Challenger
Shortly after lift off the space shuttle, Challenger, exploded

Hubble Telescope

Apr 24, 1990

Hubble Telescope
The Hubble Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990.

Endeavour

Dec 2, 1993

Endeavour was launched on December 2, 1993. Endeavour was used so some things but it was the first to on orbit the Hubble Space Telescope.

Sojourner (Land Rover)

Dec 5, 1996

Sojourner (Land Rover)
Sojourner was launched on December 5, 1996 from Cape Canaveral and landed July 4, 1997 on Mars in a place called Ares Vallis. Sojourner explored Mars, took pictures, collected rock and soil, and came back with data on the winds and the weather.

Spirit (Land Rover)

Jun 10, 2003

Spirit (Land Rover)Spirit was launched on June 10, 2003 and landed on Mars on January 4, 2004. Spirit was launched to Mars to bring back data on Mars surface. Spirit found sediments of something in Gusev Crater, which is 3-4 billion years old, and scientists think it came from meteor that hit its surface. Spirit came back with pictures of Mars surface and sediments of rock and possibly meteor. Spirit even worn down the drill bit on its drill!

Curisoity (Land Rover)

Nov 26, 2011

Curiosity
Curiosity is car sized land rover that is exploring the Gale Crater on Mars. Curiosity was launch from Cape Canaveral on November 26, 2011 and landed on Mars August 6, 2012. Curiosity is also taking reading of temperatures and send them back to Earth. Curiosity is also looking for water and life on Mars.