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The US Space Timeline

By suitangi

  • First Rocket

    First Rocket
    Robert H. Goddard flies the first successful liquid-fueled rocket. Click here to see his biography.

  • First US satellite

    First US satellite
    The U.S. launches Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite to orbit around the earth.

  • Nasa Created

    Nasa Created
    Nasa created in the US

  • First photo of earth

    First photo of earth
    First photograph of Earth from orbit

  • Atlas

    Atlas
    The first U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile, called Atlas, becomes operational.

  • X-15

    X-15
    X-15 research flights set records in speed and altitude.

  • First weather satellite

    First weather satellite
    Tiros1, the first weather satellite, is launched by the U.S.

  • Delta I

    Delta I
    The Delta I rocket is launched.

  • First American in space.

    First American in space.
    Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space.

  • Kennedy's Speech

    Kennedy's Speech
    President John F. Kennedy's Speech announces the U.S. decision to go to the Moon before a Joint Session of Congress.

  • Telstar 1

    Telstar 1
    The first commercial satellite, Telstar 1, designed to transmit television and data communications, is launched.

  • Mariner 2

    Mariner 2
    NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft visits the planet Venus. It was the first spacecraft to encounter another planet.

  • Gemini 7/Gemini 6A

    Gemini 7/Gemini 6A
    Gemini 7/Gemini 6A missions. From December 4-18, 1965

  • Lunar Orbiter I

    Lunar Orbiter I
    Lunar Orbiter I is the first U.S. spacecraft to orbit the Moon.

  • Apollo 8

    Apollo 8
    Apollo 8 makes ten orbits around the moon. The famous Earthrise photo is taken and the astronauts spontaneously read from Genesis to the world

  • Apollo 11

    Apollo 11
    Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

  • Apollo 14

    Apollo 14
    Apollo 13 suffers an oxygen tank explosion losing fuel, air, water, and power. The crew manages to land safely on earth.

  • Apollo 15

    Apollo 15
    Apollo 15 completes the first long lunar landing mission. It was from July 21- August 7, 1971

  • Landsat 1

    Landsat 1
    Landsat 1, the first environmental sensing satellite, is launched aboard a Delta rocket.

  • Pioneer 10

    Pioneer 10
    Pioneer 10 takes close up pictures of Jupiter.

  • mariner 10

    mariner 10
    Mariner 10 becomes the first spacecraft to fly past the Mercury.

  • Viking 1

    Viking 1
    Viking 1 Lander is the first spacecraft from Earth to land on Mars.

  • Pioneer 2

    Pioneer 2
    Pioneer 2 space probes drop four probes on the surface of Venus.

  • Space Shuttle - Columbia

    Space Shuttle - Columbia
    The first Space Shuttle, called Columbia, is launched.

  • Columbia

    Columbia
    Space Shuttle Columbia activates two commercial communications satellites.

  • Pioneer 10

    Pioneer 10
    Pioneer 10 passes the orbit of Neptune and becomes the first human made object to leave the solar system.

  • Voyager 2 - third planet

    Voyager 2 - third planet
    Voyager 2 visits its third planet, Venus.

  • Voyager 2 - 4th planet

    Voyager 2 - 4th planet
    Voyager 2 visits its fourth planet, Neptune.

  • Discovery

    Discovery
    Space Shuttle Discovery launches to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope.

  • Mars Pathfinder

    Mars Pathfinder
    The Mars Pathfinder lands on the Mars surface.

  • Endeavor

    Endeavor
    Space Shuttle Endeavor makes first assembly trip to the International Space Station.

  • ISS

    ISS
    First manned expedition to the International Space Station.

  • Mars Rover

    Mars Rover
    The Mars Rover Spirit lands in Gusev crater followed by the Rover Opportunity landing in the Meridiani Planum.

  • SpaceShipOne

    SpaceShipOne
    SpaceShipOne completes the first privately funded human spaceflight.

  • New Horizons

    New Horizons
    New Horizons probe was launched and will arrive at Pluto on July 2015.