Space Exploration

Celestial navigation

Related Lives

Comoros

A Blend of Cultures, Natural Beauty, and Challenges

Afghanistan

The Jewel of Central Asia

Benin

The Jewel of West African Culture.

Iraq

The Cradle of Civilization

Life cover image

1964

12-Oct-1964

First multi-person crew in orbit

First multi-person crew in orbit

25-Apr-1964

First launch of a lithergol rocket

1963

19-Jul-1963

First Crewed Reusable Spacecraft Achieves Milestone

16-Jun-1963

First Woman in Space Achieves Historic Flight

First Woman in Space Achieves Historic Flight

1962

14-Dec-1962

First planetary flyby with data returned

First planetary flyby with data returned

15-Nov-1962

First Mars Flyby Contact Lost

First Mars Flyby Contact Lost

18-Aug-1962

First auroral research rocket launched

11-Aug-1962

First Dual Crewed Spaceflight Achieved

First Dual Crewed Spaceflight Achieved

26-Apr-1962

First spacecraft to impact far side of Moon

First spacecraft to impact far side of Moon

07-Mar-1962

First Orbital Solar Observatory Launch

First Orbital Solar Observatory Launch

1961

06-Aug-1961

First 24-hour crewed space flight

First 24-hour crewed space flight

19-May-1961

First Planetary Flyby of Venus

05-May-1961

First Human-Piloted Space Flight Achieved

12-Apr-1961

First Human Spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin

First Human Spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin

12-Feb-1961

First launch from Earth orbit

First launch from Earth orbit

31-Jan-1961

First Hominidae in Space with Chimpanzee Ham

First Hominidae in Space with Chimpanzee Ham

1960

25-Sep-1960

First rocket engine fired in space

First rocket engine fired in space

19-Aug-1960

First plants and animals return alive

15-Mar-1960

Pioneer 5: First Solar Probe Launch

Pioneer 5: First Solar Probe Launch

1959

04-Oct-1959

First photos of the Moon's far side

First photos of the Moon's far side

13-Sep-1959

First impact on another celestial body

First impact on another celestial body

07-Aug-1959

First photograph of Earth from orbit

First photograph of Earth from orbit

17-Feb-1959

Launch of First Weather Satellite Vanguard 2

04-Jan-1959

First rocket to reach Earth escape velocity

1958

17-Mar-1958

First use of solar power in space

31-Jan-1958

Van Allen radiation belt confirmed

Van Allen radiation belt confirmed

1957

03-Nov-1957

First Mammal in Orbit: Laika the Dog

First Mammal in Orbit: Laika the Dog

04-Oct-1957

Launch of First Artificial Satellite Sputnik 1

1956

20-Sep-1956

First rocket to enter the exosphere

First rocket to enter the exosphere

1954

05-Oct-1954

First color picture of Earth