Space Exploration

Celestial navigation

Related Lives

India

The Land of Diversity and Vibrant Culture.

Chad

Heart of the Sahel

Dominican Republic

A Caribbean Paradise

Singapore

The Asian Tiger

Life cover image

1964

First launch of a lithergol rocket

25 Apr 1964

1963

First Crewed Reusable Spacecraft Achieves Milestone

19 Jul 1963

First Woman in Space Achieves Historic Flight

16 Jun 1963

First Woman in Space Achieves Historic Flight

1962

First planetary flyby with data returned

14 Dec 1962

First planetary flyby with data returned

First Mars Flyby Contact Lost

15 Nov 1962

First Mars Flyby Contact Lost

First auroral research rocket launched

18 Aug 1962

First Dual Crewed Spaceflight Achieved

11 Aug 1962

First Dual Crewed Spaceflight Achieved

First spacecraft to impact far side of Moon

26 Apr 1962

First spacecraft to impact far side of Moon

First Orbital Solar Observatory Launch

07 Mar 1962

First Orbital Solar Observatory Launch

1961

First 24-hour crewed space flight

06 Aug 1961

First 24-hour crewed space flight

First Planetary Flyby of Venus

19 May 1961

First Human-Piloted Space Flight Achieved

05 May 1961

First Human Spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin

12 Apr 1961

First Human Spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin

First launch from Earth orbit

12 Feb 1961

First launch from Earth orbit

First Hominidae in Space with Chimpanzee Ham

31 Jan 1961

First Hominidae in Space with Chimpanzee Ham

1960

First rocket engine fired in space

25 Sep 1960

First rocket engine fired in space

First plants and animals return alive

19 Aug 1960

Pioneer 5: First Solar Probe Launch

11 Mar 1960

Pioneer 5: First Solar Probe Launch

1959

First photos of the Moon's far side

04 Oct 1959

First photos of the Moon's far side

First impact on another celestial body

13 Sep 1959

First impact on another celestial body

First photograph of Earth from orbit

07 Aug 1959

First photograph of Earth from orbit

Launch of First Weather Satellite Vanguard 2

17 Feb 1959

First rocket to reach Earth escape velocity

04 Jan 1959

1958

First use of solar power in space

17 Mar 1958

Van Allen radiation belt confirmed

31 Jan 1958

Van Allen radiation belt confirmed

1957

First Mammal in Orbit: Laika the Dog

03 Nov 1957

First Mammal in Orbit: Laika the Dog

Launch of First Artificial Satellite Sputnik 1

04 Oct 1957

1956

First rocket to enter the exosphere

20 Sep 1956

First rocket to enter the exosphere

1954

First Color Photo of Earth from Space

05 Oct 1954

First Color Photo of Earth from Space

First color picture of Earth

05 Oct 1954