History of Space Exploration

Most orbital flight actually takes place in upper layers of the atmosphere, especially in the
thermosphere (not to scale)

In July 1950 the first bumper rocket is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Bumper was
a two-stage rocket consisting of a Post-War V-2 topped by a WAC Corporal rocket. It could
reach then-record altitudes of almost 400 km. Launched by General Electric Company, this
Bumper was used primarily for testing rocket systems and for research on the upper atmosphere.
They carried small payloads that allowed them to measure attributes including air temperature
and cosmic ray impacts.

The first steps of putting a man-made object into space were taken by German scientists during
World War II while testing the V2 rocket which became the first human-made object in space on
October 3, 1942 with the launching of V-4. After the war, the Allies used German scientists and
their captured rockets in programs for both military and civilian research. The first scientific
exploration from space was the cosmic radiation experiment launched by the U.S. on a V2 rocket
on May 10, 1946. The first images of Earth taken from space followed the same year while the
first animal experiment saw fruit flies lifted into space in 1947, both also on modified V2s
launched by Americans. Starting in 1947, the Soviets launched sub-orbital V2 rockets and their
own variant, the R-1, including radiation and animal experiments on some flights. These
suborbital experiments only allowed a very short time in space which limited their usefulness.

Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite orbited earth at 939 km (583 mi) to 215 km (134 mi) in
1957, and was soon followed by Sputnik 2. See First satellite by country (Replica Pictured)

The first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik ("Satellite I") mission on
October 4, 1957. The satellite weighed about 83 kg (184 pounds), and is believed to have orbited
Earth at a height of about 250 km (150 miles). It had two radio transmitters (20 and 40 MHz),
which emitted "beeps" that could be heard by radios around the globe. Analysis of the radio
signals was used to gather information about the electron density of the ionosphere, while
temperature and pressure data was encoded in the duration of radio beeps. The results indicated
that the satellite was not punctured by a meteoroid. Sputnik 1 was launched by an R-7 rocket. It
burned up upon re-entry on January 3, 1958.

This success led to an escalation of the American space program, which unsuccessfully
attempted to launch Vanguard 1 into orbit two months later. On January 31, 1958, the U.S.
successfully orbited Explorer 1 on a Juno rocket. In the meantime, the Soviet dog Laika became
the first animal in orbit on November 3, 1957.
First human flights

The first successful human spaceflight was Vostok 1 ("East 1"), carrying 27 year old Russian
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961. The spacecraft completed one orbit around the
globe, lasting about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Gagarin's flight resonated around the world; it was a
demonstration of the advanced Soviet space program and it opened an entirely new era in space
exploration: human spaceflight.

The U.S. first launched a person into space within a month of Vostok 1 with Alan Shepard's
suborbital flight in Mercury-Redstone 3. Orbital flight was achieved by the United States when
John Glenn's Mercury-Atlas 6 orbited the Earth on February 20, 1962.

Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, orbited the Earth 48 times aboard Vostok 6 on
June 16, 1963.

China first launched a person into space 42 years after the launch of Vostok 1, on October 15,
2003, with the flight of Yang Liwei aboard the Shenzhou 5 (Spaceboat 5) spacecraft.

First planetary explorations

The first artificial object to reach another celestial body was Luna 2 in 1959.[6] The first
automatic landing on another celestial body was performed by Luna 9[7] in 1966. Luna 10
became the first artificial satellite of another celestial body[8].

The first manned landing on another celestial body was performed by Apollo 11 in its lunar
landing on July 20, 1969.

The first successful interplanetary flyby was the 1962 Mariner 2 flyby of Venus (closest
approach 34,773 kilometers). Flybys for the other planets were first achieved in 1965 for Mars
by Mariner 4, 1973 for Jupiter by Pioneer 10, 1974 for Mercury by Mariner 10, 1979 for Saturn
by Pioneer 11, 1986 for Uranus by Voyager 2, and 1989 for Neptune by Voyager 2.

The first interplanetary surface mission to return at least limited surface data from another planet
was the 1970 landing of Venera 7 on Venus which returned data to earth for 23 minutes. In 1971
the Mars 3 mission achieved the first soft landing on Mars returning data for almost 20 seconds.
Later much longer duration surface missions were achieved, including over 6 years of Mars
surface operation by Viking 1 from 1975 to 1982 and over 2 hours of transmission from the
surface of Venus by Venera 13 in 1982 (the longest ever Soviet planetary surface mission).
It was the late 19th Century that men began to think seriously of sending voyages into the vastness of space
propelled by the fiery blast from rocket nozzles. There followed two thirds of a century of theorizing,
experimenting, and engineering that culminated in 1957 in the launching of the first artificial satellite. Below are
listed some of the milestones that led to the beginning of the space age. The list continues through the many decades
of exciting discoveries and accomplishments that followed:

1957

 In May, the Soviet Union attempts the first launch of an R-7 ICBM, unsuccessfully.
 In June, the U.S. attempts the first launch of an early model Atlas A, unsuccessfully.
 Soviet Premier Khrushchev announces a successful ICBM flight in August over a range of 6,000 kilometers.
 The Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite of Earth, Sputnik 1, on October 4.
 In November, the Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2, the first satellite to carry a living animal, a dog named
Laika.
 The United States first attempt to launch an artificial satellite, Vanguard, results in an explosion on the launch
pad.

1958

 Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. satellite, is launched on January 31. An instrument package provides
evidence of high altitude radiation surrounding Earth - the first major scientific discovery of the space age.
 The first successful launch of an Atlas B, America's first ICBM.
 The U.S. Advanced Research Project Agency formally initiates what will become the Saturn project.
 The U.S. attempts the first launch of a lunar probe, Pioneer 0, unsuccessfully.
 The Soviet Union attempts its first launch of a lunar probe, Luna, unsuccessfully.
 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed from the National Advisory Committee
on Aeronautics (NACA) and other agencies.
 Project Mercury, the first U.S. space flight program, is established.
 The U.S. fires the first missile from its west coast launch site at Vandenburg Air Force Base.

1959

 The Soviet Union launches Luna 1 in a lunar impact attempt; the spacecraft goes into solar orbit after a 5,000
kilometer fly-by. First direct observations of the solar wind.
 Rocketdyne is awarded a full research and development contract for the F-1 engine.
 The U.S. launches Pioneer 4, which flies by the Moon at a distance 60,000 kilometers into solar orbit.
 NASA announces the selection of its first group of seven astronauts, the "Mercury 7".
 The first experimental reactor, Kiwi-A, in the U.S. nuclear space rocket program is operated successfully.
 The Soviet Luna 2 probe successfully completes the first lunar impact.
 The Soviet Luna 3 probe returns the first pictures of the lunar far side with 70% photo coverage.
 Plesetsk, in northern Russia, becomes the world's first operational ICBM site.

1960

 The U.S. completes its first successful test launch of a two-stage Titan I ICBM.
 The initial group of twenty Soviet cosmonauts is chosen from Air Force jet pilots.
 The U.S. launches Pioneer 5, the first deep-space probe, which returns data from a distance of 36.2 million
kilometers.
 The U.S. launches TIROS-1, the world's first successful weather satellite.
 Sputnik 4 is an unmanned test of the Soviet Vostok spacecraft.
 The United States' lunar landing project is formalized as Project Apollo.
 Mercury-Atlas 1 is the first unmanned qualification flight of the spacecraft Atlas combination, considered a
failure.
 The U.S. recovers the first object returned from Earth orbit, the reentry capsule of Discoverer 13.
 The U.S. launches Echo 1A, the first experimental communications satellite - a passive signal reflector.
 Sputnik 5 is a second Vostok test; it carries two dogs and other animals that are recovered safely after a day in
orbit.
 The U.S. recovers film from the reentry capsule of Discoverer 14, the first successful photosurveillance mission.
 The first rocket is fired from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
 The Soviet Union attempts to launch the first interplanetary probe, to Mars, unsuccessfully.
 The explosion of an R-16 ICBM on the launch pad at Tyuratam kills over 100.
 Mercury-Redstone 1A is an unmanned test that qualifies the systems for suborbital operations.

1961

 In January, a chimpanzee named Ham is rocketed into space in Mercury-Redstone 2.

 NASA and the AEC request proposals from industry for the development of NERVA, nuclear engine for rocket
vehicle application.
 The Soviet Union flies the first staged-combustion rocket engine.
 Yuri A. Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space, completing one orbit of the Earth in his Vostok 1
spacecraft on April 12.
 Alan B. Shepard Jr. becomes the first American in space by completing a sub-orbital flight in Mercury-Redstone
3 on May 5.
 The Soviet Union's Venera 1 probe passes within 100,000 kilometers of Venus but fails before encounter; first
space probe to be launched from Earth orbit.
 President Kennedy commits the United States to the goal of landing a man on the Moon before the end of the
decade.
 The U.S. Navy launches Transit 4A, the first satellite using a plutonium-powered radioisotope thermoelectric
generator (RTG).
 A complete F-1 prototype engine begins static firings.
 Gherman Titov, in Vostok 2, completes the first manned flight of over 24 hours duration.
 The U.S. tests the first of its Ranger series of unmanned lunar probes; fails to leave Earth orbit.
 In November, a chimpanzee named Enos orbits the Earth in Mercury-Atlas 5.

1962

 NASA announces plans to build the C-5 rocket, which will later be renamed the Saturn V.
 John H. Glenn Jr. is the first American to orbit the Earth, flying Mercury-Atlas 6 for three orbits on February 20.
 The Soviet Union makes the first public announcement of its manned lunar goals.
 The U.S. launches Ranger 4 in an attempt to hard land a seismometer on the Moon; spacecraft fails before first
U.S. lunar impact.
 The U.S. successfully launches a Titan II ICBM in the first full-scale test of the vehicle.
 The Soviet government gives approval to proceed with development of the UR-500 rocket, the "Proton" launch
vehicle.
 NASA's Launch Operations Center is established on Merritt Island in Florida. The center is renamed John F.
Kennedy Space Center following the president's death in 1963.
 The U.S. launches Telstar 1, the world's first active communications satellite and first privately owned satellite.
 NASA announces that lunar-orbit rendezvous (LOR) has been selected as the primary mission mode for the
manned moon landings.
 The Soviet Union performs the first twinned flight. Vostok 4 passes within 5 kilometers of Vostok 3 on its first
orbit.
 The first rocket is fired from Japan's Kagoshima Space Center.
 The Soviet government authorizes the start of work on the N1 rocket, the lunar landing launch vehicle.
 The U.S. Mariner 2 probe performs the first successful fly-by of Venus; no magnetic field is detected.

1963
 The Soviet Union launches the first of many lunar soft-landing attempts; spacecraft fails to leave Earth orbit.
 During the last flight of the Mercury program, Gordon Cooper becomes the first American to spend more than a
day in space.
 Vostok 5, piloted by Valeri Bykovsky, sets a space endurance record of 4 days, 23 hours.
 Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space during the flight of Vostok 6.
 The Soviet Union's Mars 1 probe passes within 193,000 kilometers of Mars but fails before encounter.
 America's X-15, piloted by Joseph Walker, becomes the first rocket plane to reach space per the FAI definition
of 100 kilometers.
 The U.S. performs the first successful flight of a liquid hydrogen fueled upper stage.
 JPL announces that America's Deep Space Network is established, the first integrated global communications
capability to deep space.

1964

 Ranger 7 is the first of three successful U.S. lunar impacts, returning thousands of high-resolution images.
 The Soviet Union's Voskhod 1, a modified Vostok capsule, carries the first multi-person crew (three) into orbit.

1965

 During the flight of Voskhod 2, Alexei Leonov becomes the first person to exit his spacecraft while in space.
 Gemini 3 is the first manned flight of America's new two-man spacecraft. It is the first piloted spacecraft to
change its orbital path and the first equipped with a computer for onboard calculation of maneuvers.
 The U.S. launches the SNAP-10A satellite, the first spacecraft powered by a full-fledged nuclear reactor.
 Edward White becomes the first American to "walk in space" during the flight of Gemini 4.
 The U.S. Mariner 4 probe performs the first successful fly-by of Mars, returning 21 complete pictures showing a
cratered surface.
 The first Soviet Proton launch vehicle, or UR-500 rocket, launches the Proton 1 satellite.
 The Soviet Zond 3 probe returns pictures of remaining portions of the lunar far side.
 Gemini 5 sets a new space endurance record of 7 days, 23 hours. It is the first spacecraft to use fuel cells for
electric power.
 France launches its first satellite, Asterix, on a Diamant A rocket from Hammaguir, Algeria.
 Gemini 6 performs the first rendezvous in space, closing to within one meter of Gemini 7. Gemini 7 remains in
orbit completing a record flight of 13 days, 18 hours duration.

1966

 The Soviet Union's Luna 9 performs the first semi-soft landing on the Moon, returning the first surface images
and radiation data.
 Apollo-Saturn 201 is the first test flight of the Saturn 1B rocket, carrying a Block I command and service
module (CSM).
 The Soviet Venera 3 probe performs the first Venus atmosphere entry and surface impact but fails to return data.
 Gemini 8 becomes the first spacecraft to dock with another vehicle in space, an Agena target vehicle.
 The Soviet Union conducts its first space launch from Plesetsk.
 The Soviet Union's Luna 10 performs the first successful lunar orbit insertion, returning data over a 56-day life.
 The U.S. Surveyor 1 soft lands on the Moon, returning over 11,000 TV pictures and engineering data for six
weeks.
 During Gemini 9, Eugene Cernan performs a 127-minute EVA, however working outside the spacecraft proves
more difficult than anticipated.
 Lunar Orbiter 1, the first of five successful U.S. lunar orbiters, performs a surface survey for future Apollo
landings.
 Apollo-Saturn 202 tests the CSM service propulsion system, as well as further testing the Saturn 1B.
 NASA qualifies the F-1 engine for use on manned missions.
 Gemini 11 attains a new altitude record of 1,374 kilometers.
 During Gemini 12, Edwin Aldrin demonstrates that an astronaut can work effectively outside a spacecraft.
1967

 American astronauts Grissom, White and Chaffee are killed when fire sweeps through their Apollo 1 spacecraft
during a test on the launch pad.
 The first manned flight of the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft ends tragically when the parachute fails to open, killing
cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov.
 A Scout B rocket places the first Italian satellite in orbit from the San Marco platform in Kenya.
 The U.S. Surveyor 5 lands on the Moon and performs the first chemical analysis of the soil.
 America's X-15, piloted by William Knight, sets a new world speed record for winged aircraft at Mach 6.72.
 The Soviet Venera 4 probe performs the first successful Venus atmosphere entry, returning data to within 25
kilometers of the surface.
 Apollo 4 is the first unmanned test of the Saturn V launch vehicle. Also tested the CM heat shield for high speed
reentry.

1968

 Surveyor 7 performs the fifth and final U.S. unmanned lunar landing, touching down near the rim of crater
Tycho.
 Apollo 5 carries an unmanned lunar module to orbit to verify operation of its propulsion systems.
 The Soviet Union launches Zond 4, a test flight for a manned circumlunar flight using a modified Soyuz capsule.
 Apollo 6 is the second and final qualification flight of the Saturn V.
 The first rocket is fired from France's Centre Spatial Guyanais near Kourou, Guiana.
 The U.S. Rover/NERVA program performs a 12-minute test of Phoebus-2A, the largest nuclear reactor ever
built.
 The Soviet Zond 5 completes a circumlunar fly-by and returns to Earth, carrying turtles and other biological
samples.
 The first rocket is fired from Japan's Tanegashima Space Center.
 NASA begins early studies of space shuttle designs.
 In October, Apollo 7 is the first piloted flight of the Apollo CSM; first American three-man crew.
 Soyuz 3 is the first successful piloted flight of the Soyuz spacecraft; rendezvous with unmanned Soyuz 2.
 In December, Apollo 8 completes a historic mission. First manned launch of a Saturn V, first human crew to
leave low Earth orbit, first manned lunar orbit, and first piloted lunar return reentry.

1969

 Soyuz 4 and 5 perform the first docking of piloted spacecraft; two crew transfer by EVA from Soyuz 5 to 4.
 A launch failure ends a Soviet attempt to land the first automatic rover on the Moon.
 In February, the Soviet Union attempts a test launch of its N1 rocket, unsuccessfully due to stage 1 failure.
 The Soviet Union attempts the first automated lunar sample return, unsuccessfully due to launch failure.
 In March, Apollo 9 performs the first piloted test flight of the lunar module in Earth orbit.
 In May, Apollo 10 tests the lunar module in lunar orbit, descending to within 15,000 meters of the surface.
 A second test of the Soviet N1 rocket results in an explosion on the launch pad, causing extensive damage.
 Apollo 11 performs the first lunar landing by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on July 20. They stay
21 hours, 36 minutes on the surface, conduct a 151 minute EVA, and collect 22 kilograms of rock and soil samples.
 Luna 15, the third Soviet attempt to retrieve lunar samples, crashes into the moon on July 21.
 Soyuz 6, 7 and 8 perform the first triple rendezvous.
 Apollo 12 performs the second manned lunar landing touching down within sight of their target, Surveyor 3.

1970

 Japan launches its first satellite, Ohsumi, on a Lambada 4S rocket from Kagoshima.
 Apollo 13's lunar landing is aborted following an oxygen tank explosion. The crew returns safely using the lunar
module as a lifeboat. The circumlunar flight sets a manned altitude record.
 China launches its first satellite, DFH-1, on a CZ-1 rocket from Jiuquan.
 Soyuz 9 sets a new endurance record of 17 days, 17 hours.
 The Soviet Union's Luna 16 performs the first successful automated lunar soil sample return, retrieving about
100 grams.
 Cosmos 367 is the first Soviet satellite powered by the BES-5 nuclear reactor.
 The Soviet Union's Luna 17 lander includes the first successful automatic lunar rover, Lunokhod 1.
 The Soviet Venera 7 spacecraft is the first to successfully return data after landing on another planet, Venus.

1971

 Apollo 14 makes the third manned lunar landing.

 The Soviet Union launches the world's first space station, Salyut 1.
 Soyuz 11 docks with Salyut 1 and the crew spends a record 23 days in orbit. Cosmonauts Dobrovolsky, Volkov,
and Patsayev die during reentry due to a loss of cabin pressurization.
 Apollo 15 makes the fourth manned lunar landing; first extended stay mission using the lunar roving vehicle.
Subsatellite released, the first deployed by a manned spacecraft.
 The United Kingdom launches its first satellite, Prospero, on a Black Arrow rocket from Woomera, Australia.
 The U.S. Mariner 9 spacecraft becomes the first to enter orbit around another planet, Mars, and maps 100% of
the surface.
 The Soviet Mars 2 spacecraft enters orbit but the lander fails, crashing and becoming first man-made object on
Mars.
 The Soviet Mars 3 lander successfully touches down but no data is returned.

1972

 President Nixon announces that NASA will proceed with the development of a reusable Space Shuttle system.
 The U.S. launches Pioneer 10, the first spacecraft sent to the outer solar system.
 Apollo 16 makes the fifth manned lunar landing. John Young becomes first person to twice orbit the Moon.
 In December, Apollo 17 makes the sixth and final manned lunar landing. Sets records for lunar stay time (74
hours, 59 minutes), EVA time (22 hours, 4 minutes), and lunar samples collected (110 kilograms).

1973
 The U.S. Rover/NERVA nuclear rocket program loses its funding and is terminated.
 The United States launches Skylab 1, America's first space station. The station is occupied for 171 days by three
crews.
 Astronauts Conrad, Kerwin & Weitz set new endurance record of 28 days aboard the Skylab space station.
 Astronauts Bean, Garriott & Lousma set new endurance record of 59 days aboard Skylab.
 The U.S. Pioneer 10 spacecraft performs the first successful fly-by of Jupiter, passing within 130,000 kilometers
of the cloud tops.

1974

 Astronauts Carr, Gibson & Pogue set new endurance record of 84 days aboard Skylab.
 The U.S. Mariner 10 spacecraft flies by Venus and returns the first close-up TV pictures. First spacecraft to use
the gravity of one planet to reach another.
 Mariner 10 conducts the first of three close encounters with the planet Mercury.
 The Soviet Union launches Salyut 3, the second of six Salyut space stations (Salyut 2 suffered a systems failure).
 The U.S. Pioneer 11 spacecraft passes within 34,000 kilometers above Jupiter's cloud tops and is redirected on a
trajectory to Saturn.
 Helios 1, a joint U.S./German project, is launched to study the interplanetary medium between Earth and the
Sun.

1975

 Apollo 18 and Soyuz 19 are launched on July 15 in the first USA/USSR joint mission. The two vehicles dock in
space for two days; the crews conduct experiments, share meals, and hold a joint news conference.
 Japan conducts its first orbital launch from Tanegashima.
 The Soviet Venera 9 spacecraft is the first to enter Venus orbit. The lander is first to return TV pictures from the
surface of another planet. Venera 10 repeats Venera 9's success three days later.

1976

 The U.S./German spacecraft Helios 2 becomes the fastest man-made object, reaching 247,500 km/h at 0.29 AU
from the Sun.
 The U.S. Viking 1 spacecraft performs the first successful Mars landing, returning pictures & data, and searches
for evidence of life.
 Luna 24 is the Soviet Union's final mission to the Moon; third automatic sample return.
 Viking 2 repeats Viking 1's success, landing on the opposite side of Mars.

1977

 The space shuttle Enterprise makes five free flights after separating from the 747 shuttle carrier aircraft.
 Salyut 6 is launched. The space station is occupied for 676 days by five long stay and eleven visiting crews.

1978

 Cosmonauts Grechko & Romanenko set a new endurance record of 96 days aboard the Salyut 6 space station.
 The British Interplanetary Society publishes Project Daedalus, a study to design a plausible interstellar
unmanned spacecraft.
 Cosmonauts Kovalyonok & Ivanchenko set a new endurance record of 139 days aboard Salyut 6.

1979

 The U.S. spacecraft Voyager 1 performs the third Jupiter fly-by, returning high-resolution pictures of the planet
and moons. Captures images of volcanic activity on Io.
 Cosmonauts Lyakhov & Ryumin set a new endurance record of 175 days aboard Salyut 6.
 Voyager 2 performs the fourth fly-by of Jupiter; images of Europa show a smooth surface with almost no craters.
 America's Skylab 1 reenters the atmosphere after more than six years in orbit. Some of the debris falls in
Australia.
 The U.S. Pioneer 11 spacecraft performs the first fly-by of Saturn, passing 21,000 kilometers above the cloud
tops.
 The European Space Agency (ESA) launches its first Ariane 1 rocket from Kourou.

1980

 India launches its first satellite, Rohini RS-1, on a SLV-3 rocket from Sriharikota.
 Cosmonauts Popov & Ryumin set a new endurance record of 184 days aboard Salyut 6.
 The U.S. spacecraft Voyager 1 performs the second Saturn fly-by and conducts a close encounter with the moon
Titan.
1981

 The United States launches STS-1, the first orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle and maiden flight of
Columbia. The space shuttle is the first reusable spacecraft.
 The U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 performs the third fly-by of Saturn; uses a gravity assist to reach the planet
Uranus.

1982

 The Soviet Venera 13 and 14 landers conduct the first soil analysis on Venus; first color pictures from surface.
 Salyut 7, the last Salyut space station, is launched. The station is occupied for 812 days by ten crews.
 Cosmonauts Berezovoi & Lebedev set a new endurance record of 211 days aboard Salyut 7.
 STS-5 is the first operational space shuttle mission and first 4-person crew.

1983

 STS-6 is the maiden flight of the space shuttle Challenger.

 Shuttle mission STS-7 carries the first 5-person crew; Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.
 Guion Bluford becomes the first African-American in space (STS-8).
 Soyuz T-10-1 makes first use of an emergency escape tower to escape a launch pad fire.
 The Soviet Venera 15 and 16 orbiters arrive at Venus for the start of radar surface mapping missions.
 Shuttle mission STS-9 carries the first 6-person crew; John Young makes his 6th space flight.

1984

 Shuttle mission 41-B features the first untethered space walks by astronauts McCandless and Stewart, using the
manned maneuvering unit (MMU).
 Shuttle mission 41-C features the first in-orbit satellite retrieval and repair.
 The first successful launch from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center, a CZ-3 rocket.
 Svetlana Savitskaya performs the first EVA by a woman during a visit to Salyut 7.
 Mission 41-D is the maiden flight of the space shuttle Discovery; first commercial payload specialist.
 Cosmonauts Atkov, Kizim, & Solovyov set a new endurance record of 236 days aboard Salyut 7.
 Shuttle mission 41-G features the first 7-person crew, first to include two women, first EVA by an American
woman (Kathy Sullivan), and the first Canadian in space (Marc Garneau).

1985

 Sakigake, Japan's first deep-space probe, is launched.

 Shuttle mission 51-C is the first dedicated to the Department of Defense with a classified military payload
deployed. 100th manned orbital mission.
 The Soviet Union's Vega 1 and 2 spacecraft deploy instrumented balloons in the atmosphere of Venus.
 Giotto, Europe's first deep-space probe, is launched.
 First ever comet fly-by, of comet Giacobini-Zinner, by the International Comet Explorer (originally named
ISEE-3).
 Mission 51-J is the maiden flight of the space shuttle Atlantis.
 Shuttle mission 61-A carries the first 8-person crew.

1986

 The U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 performs the first fly-by of Uranus, passing within 81,500 kilometers of the cloud
tops.
 The space shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff killing its 7-person crew
 The Soviet Union launches Mir, a new generation space station. The station is occupied by 28 long stay crews.
 The Soviet spacecraft Vega 1 transmits the first images of comet Halley.
 ESA's Giotto spacecraft performs the first close encounter with a comet, passing within 600 kilometers of comet
Halley.

1987

 Cosmonaut Romanenko sets a new endurance record of 326 days aboard the Mir space station.

1988

 STS-26 is the first launch of the redesigned Space Shuttle since the Challenger disaster.
 Cosmonauts Manarov & Titov set a new endurance record of 365 days aboard Mir.

1989

 The U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 performs the first fly-by of Neptune, the fourth planet encounter of its mission.

1990

 Japan launches the Hiten/Hagoromo mission, making Japan the third nation to achieve lunar fly-by, orbit, and
impact.
 The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is deployed during shuttle mission STS-31; shuttle altitude record of 619
kilometers.
 The U.S. Magellan orbiter arrives at Venus; first use of aerobraking to lower orbit. Radar maps 98% of planet to
100-meter resolution.

1991

 The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory is deployed during shuttle mission STS-37; first U.S. EVA since 1985.
 The U.S. spacecraft Galileo performs the first asteroid fly-by, passing 1,600 kilometers from 951 Gaspra.
 As of December 31, the Soviet Union ceases to exist.

1992

 Ulysses, a joint U.S./ESA project, flies by Jupiter to change its orbit into one of high inclination for solar polar
overflights.
 Mission STS-49 is the maiden flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. A record 60 manhours of EVA is
performed.
 Mission STS-50 is the first Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO); shuttle endurance record of 13 days, 19 hours.

1993
 The Space Station Alpha Project is announced, which will later be named the International Space Station (ISS).
 Shuttle mission STS-61 features the first HST servicing mission. Thomas Akers sets a new U.S. career EVA
duration record of 29 hours, 40 minutes.

1994

 The Clementine orbiter is the first U.S. mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 (1972); maps lunar surface.
 Sergei Krikalyov is the first Russian cosmonaut to travel on the U.S. Space Shuttle (STS-60).
 U.S. spacecraft Galileo performs its second asteroid fly-by, passing within 2,400 kilometers of 243 Ida.

1995

 Cosmonaut Polyakov sets a new endurance record of 437 days aboard Mir.
 Eileen Collins becomes the first female space shuttle pilot (STS-63).
 Norman Thagard is the first NASA astronaut to visit the Mir space station, sets U.S. endurance record of 115
days.
 Shuttle mission STS-71 features the first shuttle docking to the Mir space station. 100th U.S. human space flight.
 America's Galileo becomes the first spacecraft to orbit Jupiter. An atmospheric probe gathers data on Jupiter's
upper atmosphere.

1996

 Shannon Lucid sets a new U.S. endurance record of 188 days aboard Mir.
 Russia's Mars 96, the heaviest interplanetary probe ever launched, suffers an upper stage failure and crashes
back to Earth.
 Columbia sets the space shuttle endurance record of 17 days, 16 hours (STS-80).

1997

 NASA's Mars Pathfinder lands the first planetary rover, Sojourner, on Mars. Demonstrates new landing
technique using air bags.
 The United States' Mars Global Surveyor becomes the first Mars orbiter since Viking 2 (1976).

1998

 The U.S. launches Deep Space 1 to test advanced technologies, including first flight of an ion engine.
 Russia launches the Zarya Functional Cargo Block on a Proton rocket, the first module of the ISS to be placed in
space.
 Shuttle mission STS-88 is the first ISS assembly flight and first habitation of the ISS.

1999

 NASA's Lunar Prospector crashes into a crater at the Moon's south pole in the hope water vapor will be
liberated, none is detected.
 The U.S. suffers the failure of two Mars missions, Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander.

2000
 The U.S. spacecraft NEAR-Shoemaker becomes the first to orbit an asteroid, 433 Eros.
 Mission STS-96 features the first space shuttle docking with the ISS.
 The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is deployed during shuttle mission STS-93; Collins is first female shuttle
commander.
 Soyuz TM-30 is the 28th and final Mir long stay mission.
 Soyuz TM-31 delivers the Expedition 1 crew to the ISS for the first extended stay on the space station.

2001

 NASA's NEAR-Shoemaker successfully lands on asteroid 433 Eros.

 The space station Mir reenters the atmosphere after 15 years in space.
 American businessman Dennis Tito becomes the first space tourist, purchasing a flight aboard a Russian Soyuz.

2002

 Jerry Ross (STS-110) and Franklin Chang-Diaz (STS-111) make a record 7th space flight.
 Astronauts Bursch & Walz set a new U.S. endurance record of 195 days aboard ISS.

2003

 The space shuttle Columbia breaks up during reentry resulting in the loss of both vehicle and 7-person crew.
 China becomes the third nation to place a man in space with the launch of Shenzhou 5 on October 15, piloted by
Yang Liwei.
 ESA launches SMART-1, the first European mission to the Moon; arrives November 2004 using ion propulsion.

2004

 The U.S. Stardust spacecraft flies by coment Wild 2, collecting cometary dust particles.
 The U.S. lands two rovers, Sprit and Opportunity, on Mars; evidence for past liquid surface water is found.
 President Bush announces the New Vision for Space Exploration Program, including plans for returning humans
to the Moon by 2020 and eventually to Mars and beyond.
 The suborbital flight of SpaceShipOne, piloted by Michael Melvill, is the first privately funded, non-government
manned space flight.
 America's Cassini becomes the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn; releases European Huygens probe prior to orbit
insertion.
 NASA's Genesis, the first mission to return samples from beyond the Moon, crashes after failing to deploy
parachute; useful solar wind samples are recovered.
 SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, breaks the X-15's altitude record for a rocket plane, reaching 111,997
meters.
 NASA's X-43A scramjet sets a new speed record for jet-powered aircraft at Mach 9.6.

2005

 ESA's Huygens probe, piggy-backed with Cassini, descends to the surface of the moon Titan and returns pictures
and data.
 NASA's Deep Impact flies by comet Tempel 1, successfully releasing an impactor to study ejecta.
 The U.S. launches STS-114 to the ISS, the first space shuttle flight since the loss of Columbia.
 Sergei Krikalyov, ISS Expedition 11, sets a record with 803 cumulative days in space.
 China's second manned flight, Shenzhou 6, includes its first two-man crew.
 Mars Express, ESA's first mission to Mars, successfully enters orbit but the lander fails.

2006
 The U.S. launches New Horizons, the first mission to Pluto and the fastest spacecraft launched from Earth at
57,600 km/h.
 Stardust's sample return cannister sucessfully lands in the U.S., returning the first cometary dust particles.
 America's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrives at Mars, carrying the largest camera flown on a planetary
mission.
 Venus Express, ESA's first mission to Venus, arrives successfully.

2007

 Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria sets a new U.S. endurance record of 215 days aboard ISS; also sets American
records with 10 career EVA totaling 67 hours, 40 minutes.
 Astronaut Sunita Williams sets new endurance and EVA records for women; 195 days aboard ISS and 29 hours,
17 minutes of EVA time.
 American Peggy Whitson becomes the first female ISS commander (Expedition 16).
 Japan's Kaguya returns the first high-definition television images of the moon from lunar orbit.
 Chang'e 1 becomes China's first successful mission to the Moon.

2008

 NASA's MESSENGER flies by Mercury, the first spacecraft to visit the planet since 1975.
 Sergei Volkov becomes the first second-generation cosmonaut in space, son of Aleksandr Volkov.
 NASA's Phoenix lander touches near Mars' north pole, the first landing in a polar region, and confirms the
presence of water ice on Mars.
 China's third manned flight, Shenzhou 7, includes its first three-man crew and first spacewalk by Zhai Zhigang.
 Chandrayaan 1 becomes India's first successful mission to the Moon.

2009

 The International Space Station begins regular six-person crew operations.

 A record thirteen crewmembers occupy a single spacecraft when Shuttle mission STS-127 visits the ISS.
 NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter enters orbit; returns high-resolution images of Apollo artifacts on the
moon.
 NASA's LCROSS mission confirms the presence of water in a permanently shadowed crater at the Moon's south
pole.

2010  The SpaceX Dragon becomes the first spacecraft placed in orbit and recovered by a private company.
 Columbia
OV-102

Columbia being transported to launch pad 39A prior to

launching on STS-107

Space Shuttle Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-

102) was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital
fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space
Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being
destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of
its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew members were killed.
Following an independent investigation into the cause of the
accident, NASA decided to retire the Shuttle orbiter fleet in
2010 in favor of the Constellation program and its manned
Orion spacecraft.

Challenger OV-099
Challenger launches, STS-7

Space Shuttle Challenger (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation:

OV-099) was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into
service, Columbia being the first. Its maiden flight was on April
4, 1983, and it completed nine missions before breaking apart
73 seconds after the launch of its tenth mission, STS-51-L on
January 28, 1986, resulting in the death of all seven crew
members. The accident led to a two-and-a-half year grounding
of the shuttle fleet, with missions resuming in 1988 with the
launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-26. Challenger itself
was replaced by the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which first
launched in 1992. Endeavour was constructed from spare parts
originally meant for Challenger and the other shuttles in the
fleet.

Discovery
OV-103
Space Shuttle Discovery launches from launch pad 39A on
mission STS-124.
Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103)
is one of the three currently operational orbiters in the Space
Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States.[3]
(The other two are Atlantis and Endeavour.) When first flown in
1984, Discovery became the third operational orbiter, and is
now the oldest orbiter in service. Discovery has performed both
research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly
missions.