Space Missions

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik 1 was the first man-made object to enter space. Sputnik 1 did not carry any people, and it remained in orbit until January 4th, 1958.

Sputnik 2

Nov 3, 1957

Sputnik 2, was the second man-made object to enter space however, this space pod was carrying a dog named Laika. Since the Soviets did not create a plan for the pod to come back to Earth, Laika died in space. This sparked debates about animal rights all around the world.

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

Explorer 1, the first American satellite in orbit took to space in Cape Canaveral using a modified Jupiter-C rocket. This was a scientific experiment conducted by James A Van Allen. This pod discovered the Earth’s radiation belt.

Ranger 7

Jul 28, 1964

Ranger 7 take the first close range photographs of the Moon.

Gemini 4

Jun 3, 1965

Edward White makes the first US space walk, this lasted for 22 minutes.

Luna 9

Feb 3, 1966

Luna 9 was the first spacecraft to the make a soft landing on the moon.

Zond 5

Sep 15, 1968

Soviet Zond 5 is launched, the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon and return.

Apollo 11

Jul 20, 1969

Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin made the first manned (nonmachine) soft landing on the moon.

Pioneer 11

Sep 1, 1979

Pioneer 11 reaches Saturn, flying to within 13,000 miles and taking the first close-up photographs

Magellan

Oct 12, 1994

Spacecraft Magellan enters the atmosphere of Venus, burning up following the completion of its mapping mission.

Endeavour

Dec 5, 2001

Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched carrying the Raffaello logistics module back to the ISS with new supplies.