Astronomy:Timeline of space exploration

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This is a timeline of space exploration which includes notable achievements, first accomplishments and milestones in humanity's exploration of outer space.

This timeline generally does not distinguish achievements by a specific country or private company, as it considers humanity as a whole. See otherwise the timeline of private spaceflight or look for achievements by each space agency.

Pre-20th century

Date Event leading to space exploration Country Researcher(s) Ref(s)
1610 First telescopic observation of the night sky: discovery of the Galilean moons, lunar craters and the phases of Venus. Flag of Most Serene Republic of Venice.svg Venice Galileo Galilei
1668 First reflecting telescope. Flag of England.svg England Isaac Newton
1781 First telescopic discovery of planet (Uranus). Flag of Great Britain (1707–1800).svg Great Britain William Herschel
1801 First discovery of asteroid (Ceres). Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4.svg Sicily Giuseppe Piazzi
1813 First exposition of the rocket equation based on Newton's third law of motion: Treatise on the Motion of Rockets. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK William Moore
1840 First clear telescopic photograph of another world: the Moon. US flag 26 stars.svg United States John William Draper
1845 First proper observation of other galaxies which are termed "whirlpool nebulae". Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK William Parsons
1861 A Journey Through Space makes first proposal of using rockets for space flight. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK William Leitch
1895 First proposal of space elevator. Flag of Russia.svg Russia Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

1900–1956

Date Mission success Country Mission name Ref(s)
1903 Publication of Exploration of the Universe with Rocket-Propelled Vehicles[1] that showed physical space exploration was theoretically possible, including the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, multi staged rockets and using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen in liquid propellant Flag of Russia.svg Russia Konstantin Tsiolkovsky [2]
1914 Goddard files for and is subsequently awarded U.S. patents on multistage and liquid-fueled rockets. US flag 48 stars.svg United States Robert H. Goddard
1917 First observation of an extrasolar planet (exoplanet) round Van Maanen 2 although it is not recognised as such at the time. Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands Adriaan van Maanen
1919 Goddard's widely influential paper "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes" discussed solid- and liquid-fueled rocketry. US flag 48 stars.svg United States Robert H. Goddard
15 December 1923 Die Rakete zu den Planetenräumen ("By Rocket into Planetary Space") self-published after its rejection as a doctoral thesis. Flag of Germany.svg Germany Hermann Oberth
1924 Society for Studies of Interplanetary Travel founded. Flag of the Soviet Union (1924-1936).svg USSR Members include Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Friedrich Zander, Yuri Kondratyuk
16 March 1926 Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket. US flag 48 stars.svg United States Robert H. Goddard
1927 Verein für Raumschiffahrt (Society for Space Travel) formed; it includes many top European rocket scientists. Flag of Germany.svg Germany  
1927 Завоевание межпланетных пространств (The Conquest of Interplanetary Space) discusses rocket mechanics and orbital effects including the gravitational slingshot. Flag of the Soviet Union (1924-1936).svg USSR Yuri Kondratyuk
1928 Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums – der Raketen-Motor (The Problem of Space Travel – The Rocket Motor) discusses space travel and its potential uses for scientific experiments. Flag of Germany.svg Germany Herman Potočnik
January 1933 British Interplanetary Society founded. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK Philip E. Cleator
April 1933 First detection of radio waves from an astronomical object. US flag 48 stars.svg United States Karl Jansky
September 1933 Establishment of the Soviet rocket research lab Reactive Scientific Research Institute (RNII) by combining the Group for the Study of Reactive Motion (GIRD) with the Gas Dynamics Laboratory (GDL). Flag of the Soviet Union (1924-1936).svg USSR Key people Sergei Korolev & Valentin Glushko [3]
20 June 1944 First spaceflight in history.

First man-made object in space (later defined as above the Kármán line).

Flag of the German Reich (1935–1945).svg Germany (Wehrmacht) V-2 rocket (MW 18014)
October 1945 Article in Wireless World, "Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?" makes first discussion of geostationary satellites as a means of communication. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK Arthur C. Clarke
10 May 1946 First space research flight (cosmic radiation experiments). US flag 48 stars.svg United States captured and improved V-2 rocket
24 October 1946 First pictures of Earth from 105 km (65 mi). US flag 48 stars.svg United States V-2 [4][5]
20 February 1947 First animals in space (fruit flies). US flag 48 stars.svg United States V-2 [4][6]
24 February 1949 First two-stage liquid-fueled rocket, that sets a record altitude of 244 miles (393 km) (WAC Corporal missile mounted onto a V-2 rocket). US flag 48 stars.svg United States Bumper-5
14 June 1949 First mammal in space (Albert II, a rhesus monkey).

First primate in space.

US flag 48 stars.svg United States V-2
20 September 1956 First rocket to pass the thermopause and enter the exosphere. At 682 miles (1,098 km) altitude and 3,335 miles range, the 3-stage Jupiter-C breaks both records and achieves MACH 18 velocity. US flag 48 stars.svg United States Jupiter-C [7][8]

1957–1959

Date Mission achievements Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
4 October 1957 First artificial satellite.
First man-made signals from space. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Sputnik 1
3 November 1957 First mammal in orbit, the dog Laika. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Sputnik 2
31 January 1958 Confirmed existence of the Van Allen radiation belt. US flag 48 stars.svg USA (ABMA) Explorer 1
17 March 1958 First use of solar power in space.
The oldest artificial object still in space. 		US flag 48 stars.svg USA (NRL) Vanguard 1
4 January 1959 First rocket to reach Earth escape velocity.

First spacecraft to attempt to impact the Moon's surface.
First artificial object in heliocentric orbit.
First detection of solar wind.

Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 1
17 February 1959 First weather satellite. US flag 48 stars.svg USA (NRL) Vanguard 2
7 August 1959 First photograph of Earth from Earth orbit. US flag 49 stars.svg USA (NASA) Explorer 6
13 September 1959 First spacecraft to impact another celestial body (the Moon).
First delivery of national pennants to a celestial body. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 2
4 October 1959 First photos of another world from space: the far side of the Moon. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 3

1960–1969

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
March 1960 First solar probe. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 5
19 August 1960 First plants and animals to return alive from Earth orbit. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Sputnik 5
25 September 1960 First rocket engine fired in space. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer P-30 [9]
10 October 1960 First probe launched to Mars. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Mars 1M
31 January 1961 First hominidae in space(Ham).

First tasks performed in space.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) M-R 2
12 February 1961 First launch from Earth orbit of upper stage into a heliocentric orbit.
First mid-course corrections.
First spin-stabilisation. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 1
12 April 1961 First human spaceflight (Yuri Gagarin).
First human-crewed orbital flight. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Vostok 1 [10][11]
5 May 1961 First human-piloted space flight (Alan Shepard).
First human-crewed suborbital flight. 		Flag of the United States.svg USA Freedom 7
19 May 1961 First planetary flyby (within 100,000 km of Venus – no data returned). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 1
6 August 1961 First crewed space flight lasting over twenty four hours by Gherman Titov, who is also the first to suffer from space sickness. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Vostok 2
7 March 1962 First orbital solar observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) OSO-1
26 April 1962 First spacecraft to impact the far side of the Moon. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Ranger 4 [12]
11 August 1962 First dual crewed spaceflight.
First communication between two crewed space vehicles in orbit.
First person to float freely in microgravity. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Vostok 3 and Vostok 4
18 August 1962 First auroral research rocket launched into the ionosphere.
Flag of Norway.svg
Norway 		Ferdinand 1
November 1962 First Mars flyby (11,000 km) but contact was lost. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Mars 1
14 December 1962 First planetary flyby with data returned (Venus).

First successful planetary science mission.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 2 [13]
16 June 1963 First woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Vostok 6
19 July 1963 First reusable crewed spacecraft (suborbital). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) X-15 Flight 90
12 October 1964 First multi-person crew (3) in orbit. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Voskhod 1
18 March 1965 First space walk/extra-vehicular activity (Alexei Leonov). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Voskhod 2
March 1965 First crewed spacecraft to change orbit. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Gemini 3
14 July 1965 First flyby of Mars (returned pictures). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 4 [14]
14 July 1965 First photographs of another planet from deep space (Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 4 [14]
15 December 1965 First orbital rendezvous (parallel flight, no docking). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Gemini 6A/Gemini 7
3 February 1966 First soft landing on another world (the Moon).
First photos from another world. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 9 [15]
1 March 1966 First impact into another planet (Venus). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 3
16 March 1966 First orbital docking between two spacecraft. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Gemini 8/Agena target vehicle
3 April 1966 First artificial satellite around another world (the Moon). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 10
23 August 1966 First picture of Earth from another astronomical object (the Moon).

First probe to map the Moon.

Flag of the United States.svg USA Lunar Orbiter 1 [16]
8 May 1967 First polar orbit around the Moon. Flag of the United States.svg USA Lunar Orbiter 4 [17]
July 1967 First photos of the Lunar south pole. Flag of the United States.svg USA Lunar Orbiter 4 [17]
30 October 1967 First automated (crewless) docking. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Cosmos 186/Cosmos 188
17 November 1967 First liftoff from another celestial body (the Moon). Flag of the United States.svg USA Surveyor 6 [18]
September 1968 First animals and plants to leave Earth orbit and travel to and around the Moon.

First lunar spacecraft to be recovered successfully.

Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Zond 5 [19]
7 December 1968 First orbital ultraviolet observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) OAO-2
21 December 1968 First human excursion beyond low Earth orbit.

First in-person observations of Earth from a distance.
First Trans-Earth injection.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 8 [20]
24 December 1968 First human flight to another celestial body (the Moon) and to enter its gravitational influence. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 8 [20]
January 1969 First docking between two crewed spacecraft in Earth orbit.

First crew exchange in space.

Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5
January 1969 First spacecraft to parachute in Venus's atmosphere, lost contact before landing. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 5
23 May 1969 First docking of two crewed spacecraft around another celestial body.

First lunar mission to include a lunar landing module.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 10 [21]
20 July 1969 First human on another celestial body (the Moon).

First words spoken from another world.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 11 [22]
21 July 1969 First space launch from another celestial body.

First sample return from another celestial body.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 11 [22]
19 November 1969 First rendezvous on the surface of a celestial body.

First meet up between human explorers and a robotic spacecraft in space (on the Moon).

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 12/Surveyor 3 [23]

1970–1979

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
24 September 1970 First automatic sample return from the Moon. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Luna 16
17 November 1970 First rover on another celestial body (the Moon).

First lunar rover.

Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Lunokhod 1
12 December 1970 First X-ray orbital observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Uhuru
15 December 1970 First soft landing on another planet (Venus).
First signals from another planet. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 7
19 April 1971 First space station. Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Salyut 1
June, 1971 First crewed orbital observatory. Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Orion 1
30 July 1971 First motor vehicle on another celestial body (Lunar Roving Vehicle). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo 15 [24]
14 November 1971 First spacecraft to orbit another planet (Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 9
27 November 1971 First spacecraft to impact another planet (Mars). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Mars 2
2 December 1971 First soft landing on Mars.
First signals from Martian surface.
First photograph from Martian surface. 		Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Mars 3
3 March 1972 First spacecraft on a trajectory out of the solar system.

First spacecraft to use all-nuclear electrical power (SNAP-19 RTGs).

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 10 [25]
15 July 1972 First spacecraft to enter the asteroid belt.

First spacecraft beyond the orbit of Mars.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 10 [25]
15 November 1972 First orbital gamma ray observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) SAS 2
3 November 1973 First mission sent to study Mercury. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 10 [26]
3 December 1973 First flyby of Jupiter.

First spacecraft beyond the Inner Solar System.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 10 [25]
January 1974 First spacecraft to return data on a long-period comet. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 10 [26]
5 February 1974 First gravity assist.

First mission to explore two planets in a single mission (Mercury and Venus).
First photograph of Venus from space.

First use of solar wind for spacecraft orientation.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 10 [26]
29 March 1974 First flyby of Mercury. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 10 [26]
21 Sept. 1974 First spacecraft to flyby the same planet multiple times (Mercury). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mariner 10 [26]
15 July 1975 First multinational crewed mission. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
20 October 1975 First spacecraft to orbit Venus. Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 9
22 October 1975 First successful photos from the surface of another planet (Venus). Flag of the Soviet Union (1955-1980).svg USSR Venera 9
20 July 1976 First successful photos and soil samples from the surface of Mars. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Viking Lander
26 January 1978 First real time remotely operated ultraviolet orbital observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA)
20px ESA
20px UK (SERC) 		International Ultraviolet Explorer
20 November 1978 First spacecraft to orbit the Sun at Lagrange 1. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) ISEE-3/ICE [27]
4 December 1978 First extended (multi-year) orbital exploration of Venus (from 1978 to 1992). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer Venus Orbiter
5 March 1979 Jupiter flyby (closest approach 349,000 km)
Encounters with five Jovian moons.
Discovery of volcanism on Io. 		Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 1
1 September 1979 First flyby of Saturn.

First photograph of Titan from deep space.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 11

1980–1989

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
12 November 1980 Saturn flyby (closest approach 124,000 km), close encounter of Titan and encounters with a dozen other moons. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 1
12 April 1981 First reusable crewed orbital spacecraft (Space Shuttle). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) STS-1
1 March 1982 First Venus soil samples

First sound recording of another world (Venus).

Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Venera 13
10 June 1982 First spacecraft to conduct a deep survey of Earth's magnetic tail. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) ISEE-3/ICE [27]
19 August 1982 First mixed gender crew aboard space station, and first woman, Svetlana Savitskaya, on space station. Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Salyut 7
1982 First plants grown in space (Arabidopsis). Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Salyut 7 [28][29]
25 January 1983 First Infrared orbital observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA)
20px UK (SERC)
20px Netherlands (NIVR) 		IRAS
13 June 1983 First spacecraft beyond the orbit of Neptune.

First spacecraft beyond all Solar System planets.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Pioneer 10 [25]
7 February 1984 First untethered spacewalk (Bruce McCandless II). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) STS-41-B
25 July 1984 First spacewalk by a woman (Svetlana Savitskaya). Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Salyut 7
11 June 1985 First balloon deployed on another planet (Venus). Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Vega 1
11 September 1985 First spacecraft to flyby a comet (21P/Giacobini-Zinner).[note 1] Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) ISEE-3/ICE [27]
24 January 1986 First spacecraft to flyby Uranus. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 2 [30]
19 February 1986 First consistently inhabited long-term research space station. Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Mir
13 March 1986 First close up observations of a comet (Halley's Comet, 596 kilometers). Flag of Europe.svg ESA Giotto
July 1988 First suspected detection of an exoplanet (Gamma Cephei Ab).[note 2] Flag of Canada.svg Canada Astronomers Bruce Campbell, Gordon Walker and Stephenson Yang. [31]
8 August 1989 First astrometric satellite. Flag of Europe.svg ESA Hipparcos
25 August 1989 First spacecraft to flyby Neptune.

First spacecraft to study all four of the solar system's giant planets at close range.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 2 [30]
18 November 1989 First orbital cosmic microwave observatory. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) COBE

1990–1999

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
14 February 1990 First photograph of the whole Solar System (Family Portrait). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 1 [32]
24 April 1990 First telescope designed to be repaired in space. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA)
Flag of Europe.svg ESA 		Hubble Space Telescope [33]
2 July 1990 First time a spacecraft coming from deep space uses the Earth for a gravity-assist manoeuvre. Flag of Europe.svg ESA Giotto [34]
21 October 1991 First asteroid flyby (951 Gaspra closest approach 1,600 km). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Galileo
1992 First confirmed observation of an exoplanet. Flag of Canada.svg Canada
Flag of Poland.svg Poland 		Aleksander Wolszczan & Dale Frail
8 February 1992 First polar orbit around the Sun.

First mission to survey the space environment above and below the poles of the Sun.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA)
Flag of Europe.svg ESA 		Ulysses [35]
13 September 1992 First spacecraft to map Venus in its entirety. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Magellan [36]
22 March 1995 Record longest duration spaceflight to date (437.7 day by Valeri Polyakov). Flag of Russia.svg Russia (FKA) Mir
7 December 1995 First orbit of Jupiter. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Galileo
7 December 1995 First spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of a gas giant (Jupiter). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Galileo's atmospheric entry probe [37]
1995 First laser communication from space. Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA, NICT) ETS-VI [38]
12 February 1997 First orbital radio observatory. Flag of Japan.svg Japan (ISAS) HALCA
4 July 1997 First operational rover on another planet (Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mars Pathfinder
17 September 1997 First spacecraft to use aerobraking to enter orbit (Martian orbit). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mars Global Surveyor [39]
20 November 1998 First multinational space station.
Largest artificial object built in space to date. 		Flag of Russia.svg Russia (FKA)
20px USA (NASA)
20px Europe (ESA)
20px Japan (JAXA)
20px Canada (CSA) 		International Space Station

2000–2009

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
14 February 2000 First orbit of an asteroid (433 Eros). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Flag of Europe.svg ESA NEAR Shoemaker
12 February 2001 First landing on an asteroid (433 Eros). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) NEAR Shoemaker
November 2001 First laser communication in space between two objects. Flag of Europe.svg ESA FranceFrance (CNES) Artemis, SPOT 4 [40]
1 July 2004 First orbit of Saturn. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) 20px ESA 20px Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens
8 September 2004 First sample return beyond lunar orbit (solar wind). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Genesis
14 January 2005 First landing in the outer Solar System (Titan).

First landing on a moon other than Earth's Moon.

Flag of Europe.svg ESA 20px USA (NASA) Flag of Italy.svg Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens
January–February 2005 First confirmed cryovolcano (Enceladus). Flag of Europe.svg ESA 20px USA (NASA) Flag of Italy.svg Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens
4 July 2005 First spacecraft to impact a comet (Tempel 1). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Deep Impact
19 November 2005 First asteroid ascent (25143 Itokawa).
First interplanetary escape without separating and discarding the landing gear. 		Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA) Hayabusa
15 January 2006 First sample return from a comet (81P/Wild). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Stardust [41]
3 January 2007 First confirmed lakes on the surface of another celestial body (lakes of Titan). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) 20px ESA Flag of Italy.svg Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens [42][43]
25 May 2008 First spacecraft to photograph another spacecraft landing on another celestial body (Phoenix, on Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter [44]
8 November 2008 First discovery of lunar water in the form of ice.[note 3] Flag of India.svg India (ISRO) Chandrayaan-1 [45][46]
6 March 2009 First space telescope designated to search for Earth-like exoplanets. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Kepler Mission [47]
August 2009 First images of the structures in the rings of a planet (rings of Saturn). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) 20px ESA Flag of Italy.svg Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens [48][49]

Since 2010

Date Mission success Country/organization Mission name Ref(s)
20 May 2010 First solar sail. Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA) IKAROS [50]
13 June 2010 First sample return from an asteroid (25143 Itokawa). Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA) Hayabusa
25 August 2010 First spacecraft to orbit one of the Moon's Lagrange point (L2). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) ARTEMIS-P1 [51]
22 October 2010 First spacecraft to orbit the Moon's Lagrange 1 point. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) ARTEMIS-P2 [51]
18 March 2011 First orbit of Mercury. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) MESSENGER
16 July 2011 First orbit of an object in the asteroid belt (4 Vesta). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Dawn
6 August 2012 First use of a sky crane to land on another celestial body (Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Mars Science Laboratory [52]
25 August 2012 First spacecraft to leave the heliosphere.

First spacecraft in interstellar space.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Voyager 1 [53]
January 2013 First laser communication with a lunar satellite. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [54]
10 September 2014 First spacecraft to orbit a comet nucleus (67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko). Flag of Europe.svg ESA Rosetta [55]
12 November 2014 First soft landing on a comet (67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko). Flag of Europe.svg ESA Philae [56]
6 March 2015 First flyby and orbit of a dwarf planet (Ceres).
First spacecraft to orbit two separate celestial bodies. 		Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Dawn [57]
July 2015 First flyby of an object beyond Neptune (Pluto and its moons).

First flyby in the Kuiper belt.

First flyby of a trans-neptunian object.
Last original encounter with one of the nine major planets recognized before 2006.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) New Horizons [58]
10 August 2015 First food grown in space eaten (lettuce). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA) International Space Station [59]
14 September 2015 First observation of gravitational waves. LSC – EGO LIGO – Virgo [60][61]
23 November 2015 First propulsive landing of a rocket after sending something into space (suborbital). Flag of the United States.svg USA (Blue Origin) New Shepard 2 [62]
21 December 2015 First propulsive landing of an orbital rocket. Flag of the United States.svg USA (SpaceX) Falcon 9 first-stage landing tests
16 April 2016 First inflatable space habitat.[note 4] Flag of the United States.svg USA (Bigelow Aerospace) BEAM [63]
15 September 2017 First spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of Saturn. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) 20px ESA Flag of Italy.svg Italy (ASI) Cassini–Huygens [64]
19 October 2017 First known interstellar object detected passing through the Solar System. Flag of the United States.svg USA (Haleakalā Observatory) Oumuamua
21 September 2018 First operational rover on an asteroid (162173 Ryugu). Flag of Japan.svg Japan (JAXA) Hayabusa2 [65]
1 December 2018 First recorded sounds from Mars. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) InSight [66]
1 January 2019 First flyby of a classical Kuiper belt object (486958 Arrokoth).

First flyby of a contact binary.

First spacecraft to make two different flybys in the Kuiper belt.

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) New Horizons [67]
3 January 2019 First soft landing on the far side of the Moon.

First germination of seeds on another celestial body.

China China (CNSA) Chang'e 4 [68]
10 April 2019 First direct photograph of a black hole and its vicinity. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Event Horizon Telescope
6 April 2021 First confirmed quake on another planet (marsquake). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) InSight [69]
19 April 2021 First aerodynamically powered flight on another celestial body (Mars). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Ingenuity [70]
20 April 2021 First in situ resource utilization.

First production of oxygen on another celestial body (Mars).

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) MOXIE [71][72]
14 December 2021 First spacecraft to fly through the atmosphere of a star (the Sun's corona). Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) Parker Solar Probe [73]
25 December 2021 Launch of the largest space telescope to date. Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA) 20px ESA Flag of Canada.svg Canada (CSA) James Webb Space Telescope [74]
26 September 2022 First asteroid measurably deflected by a spacecraft.

First spacecraft to make contact with an asteroid moon (impact on Dimorphos).

Flag of the United States.svg USA (NASA, SpaceX) DART [75]
23 August 2023 First landing at the lunar south pole. Flag of India.svg India (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 [76]

Notes

  1. ↑ Soviet spacecraft Vega 1 and Vega 2 and ESA spacecraft Giotto all made a flyby of Halley's Comet the year after, in 1986.
  2. ↑ Although the discovery was retracted in 1994, and not confirmed until 2002.
  3. ↑ On December 3, 1996 (prior to 2008), the US Department of Defense announced that Clementine data suggested evidence of ice at the lunar south pole. However, the discovery was not confirmed and Clementine data might have been misinterpreted.
  4. ↑ The reason why it is BEAM (2016) rather than Genesis I (2006) is that BEAM was specifically designed for human habitation and was attached to the ISS, while Genesis I and Genesis II (2007) were technology demonstration prototypes for future space habitats.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Russian title Issledovaniye mirovykh prostranstv reaktivnymi priborami (Исследование мировых пространств реактивными приборами)
  2. ↑ Siddiqi, Asif (2000). Challenge to Apollo : the Soviet Union and the space race, 1945-1974. Washington, D.C: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA History Div.. pp. 1. https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4408pt1.pdf. Retrieved 24 July 2022. 
  3. ↑ Chertok, Boris (31 January 2005). Rockets and People (Volume 1 ed.). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. p. 9. https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/rockets_people_vol1_detail.html. Retrieved 24 July 2022. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Chronology: Cowboys to V-2s to the Space Shuttle to lasers". http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/WSHist/Pages/ChronologyCowboystoV2stotheSpaceShuttletolasers.aspx. 
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". http://media.airspacemag.com/images/1stPhotoFromSpace.jpg. 
  6. ↑ "Part 1". https://history.nasa.gov/afspbio/part1.htm. 
  7. ↑ "The Space Review: Old Reliable: The story of the Redstone". https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1836/1. 
  8. ↑ "The United States Army | Redstone Arsenal Historical Information". https://history.redstone.army.mil/space-firsts.html. 
  9. ↑ "Able 5A (Pioneer P-30) | Pioneer P-30". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer-p-30/in-depth. 
  10. ↑ "Yuri Gagarin and Vostok 1, the First Human Spaceflight". https://www.planetary.org/space-missions/vostok-1. 
  11. ↑ "Yuri Gagarin: Who was the first person in space?". https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56718196. 
  12. ↑ "Discussion". Space Policy 14 (1): 6. 1998-02-01. doi:10.1016/S0265-9646(97)00038-6. Bibcode: 1998SpPol..14....5.. 
  13. ↑ "In Depth | Mariner 02". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-02/in-depth. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "In Depth | Mariner 04". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-04/in-depth. 
  15. ↑ "Luna 9". https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-006A. 
  16. ↑ "In Depth | Lunar Orbiter 1". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lunar-orbiter-1/in-depth. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "In Depth | Lunar Orbiter 4". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lunar-orbiter-4/in-depth. 
  18. ↑ "In Depth | Surveyor 6". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/surveyor-6/in-depth. 
  19. ↑ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-076A. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "In Depth | Apollo 8". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/apollo-8/in-depth. 
  21. ↑ "In Depth | Apollo 10". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/apollo-10/in-depth. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "In Depth | Apollo 11". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/apollo-11/in-depth. 
  23. ↑ "In Depth | Apollo 12". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/apollo-12/in-depth. 
  24. ↑ "In Depth | Apollo 15". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/apollo-15/in-depth. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 "In Depth | Pioneer 10". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/pioneer-10/in-depth. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 "In Depth | Mariner 10". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mariner-10/in-depth. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Solar System Exploration: Missions: By Target: Our Solar System: Past: ISEE-3/ICE". 2015-06-10. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?MCode=ISEEICE. 
  28. ↑ Merkys, A. J.; Laurinavicius, R. S.; Svegzdiene, D. V. (1984). "Plant growth, development and embryogenesis during Salyut-7 flight". Advances in Space Research 4 (10): 55–63. doi:10.1016/0273-1177(84)90224-2. ISSN 0273-1177. PMID 11539644. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11539644/. 
  29. ↑ "First species of plant to flower in space" (in en-gb). https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-species-of-plant-to-flower-in-space. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "In Depth | Voyager 2". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/voyager-2/in-depth. 
  31. ↑ "ESA Science & Technology - A brief introduction to exoplanets" (in en-US). https://sci.esa.int/web/exoplanets/-/60654-a-brief-introduction-to-exoplanets. 
  32. ↑ "Voyagers". http://filer.case.edu/sjr16/advanced/20th_far_voyagers.html. 
  33. ↑ "In Depth | Hubble Space Telescope". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/hubble-space-telescope/in-depth. 
  34. ↑ "Giotto overview" (in en-GB). https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Giotto_overview. 
  35. ↑ "In Depth | Ulysses". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/ulysses/in-depth. 
  36. ↑ "In Depth | Magellan". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/magellan/in-depth. 
  37. ↑ "In Depth | Galileo Probe". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/galileo-probe/in-depth. 
  38. ↑ Araki, Kenichi; Arimoto, Yoshinori; Shikatani, Motokazu; Toyoda, Masahiro; Toyoshima, Morio; Takahashi, Tetsuo; Kanda, Seiji; Shiratama, Koichi (1996). "Performance evaluation of laser communication equipment onboard the ETS-VI satellite". 2699. SPIE. p. 52. doi:10.1117/12.238434. 
  39. ↑ "In Depth | Mars Global Surveyor". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-global-surveyor/in-depth. 
  40. ↑ "A world first: Data transmission between European satellites using laser light". 22 November 2001. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/A_world_first_Data_transmission_between_European_satellites_using_laser_light. 
  41. ↑ "In Depth | Stardust". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/stardust/in-depth. 
  42. ↑ Stofan, E. R.; Elachi, C.; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Lorenz, R. D.; Stiles, B.; Mitchell, K. L.; Ostro, S.; Soderblom, L. et al. (2007). "The lakes of Titan". Nature 445 (1): 61–64. doi:10.1038/nature05438. PMID 17203056. Bibcode: 2007Natur.445...61S. 
  43. ↑ "Titan Has Liquid Lakes, Scientists Report in Nature". NASA/JPL. January 3, 2007. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/features.cfm?feature=1258. 
  44. ↑ "In Depth | Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/in-depth. 
  45. ↑ "In Depth | Clementine". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/clementine/in-depth. 
  46. ↑ "NASA - NSSDCA - Experiment - Details". https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1994-004A-09. 
  47. ↑ "NASA launches Kepler Mission: Search for Earth-like worlds". http://spacechronology.com/2000s.html#2009. 
  48. ↑ "About the Mission | Mission". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/mission/about-the-mission. 
  49. ↑ "The Tallest Peaks". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/141/the-tallest-peaks. 
  50. ↑ "JAXA | IKAROS Mission Overview". https://global.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/overview/ikaros_e.html. 
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "In Depth | ARTEMIS". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/in-depth. 
  52. ↑ "In Depth | Curiosity (MSL)". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/curiosity-msl/in-depth. 
  53. ↑ "In Depth | Voyager 1". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/voyager-1/in-depth. 
  54. ↑ "In Depth | Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/lro/in-depth. 
  55. ↑ "In Depth | Rosetta & Philae". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/rosetta-philae/in-depth. 
  56. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (November 12, 2014). "European Space Agency's Spacecraft Lands on Comet's Surface". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/science/space/european-space-agencys-spacecraft-lands-on-comets-surface.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=photo-spot-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0. 
  57. ↑ "Overview | Dawn". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/dawn/overview. 
  58. ↑ "In Depth | New Horizons". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/new-horizons/in-depth. 
  59. ↑ "Meals Ready to Eat: Expedition 44 Crew Members Sample Leafy Greens Grown on Space Station". Nasa. 7 July 2015. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/meals_ready_to_eat. 
  60. ↑ Abbott, Benjamin P. (2016). "Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger". Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (6): 061102. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.061102. PMID 26918975. Bibcode: 2016PhRvL.116f1102A. 
  61. ↑ Castelvecchi, Davide; Witze, Alexandra (11 February 2016). "Einstein's gravitational waves found at last". Nature News. doi:10.1038/nature.2016.19361. http://www.nature.com/news/einstein-s-gravitational-waves-found-at-last-1.19361. Retrieved 11 February 2016. 
  62. ↑ Foust, Jeff (24 November 2015). "Blue Origin Flies — and Lands — New Shepard Suborbital Spacecraft". Space News. http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-successfully-flies-new-shepard-suborbital-vehicle/. "We’re going to take that same exact architecture that was demonstrated and use it on our the booster stage of our orbital vehicle" 
  63. ↑ "BEAM Successfully Installed to the International Space Station – Space Station" (in en-US). https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/04/16/beam-successfully-installed-to-the-international-space-station/. 
  64. ↑ Chang, Kenneth (2017-09-14). "Cassini Vanishes Into Saturn, Its Mission Celebrated and Mourned" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/14/science/cassini-grand-finale-saturn.html. 
  65. ↑ "Hayabusa 2" (in en). https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/hayabusa-2/in-depth/. 
  66. ↑ "In Depth | InSight". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/insight/in-depth. 
  67. ↑ "Ultima Thule: Clearest image yet of 'snowman' space rock released by NASA" (in en). https://news.sky.com/story/ultima-thule-clearest-image-yet-of-snowman-space-rock-released-by-nasa-11597230. 
  68. ↑ Lyons, Kate (2019-01-03). "Far side of the moon: China's Chang'e 4 probe makes historic touchdown" (in en-GB). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/03/china-probe-change-4-land-far-side-moon-basin-crater. 
  69. ↑ Cowing, Keith (2022-04-26). "Two Largest Marsquakes To Date Recorded From Planet's Far Side" (in en-US). https://spaceref.com/science-and-exploration/two-largest-marsquakes-to-date-recorded-from-planets-far-side/. 
  70. ↑ "NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Succeeds in Historic First Flight". 2021-04-19. https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-ingenuity-mars-helicopter-succeeds-in-historic-first-flight. 
  71. ↑ Potter, Sean (2021-04-21). "NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Extracts First Oxygen from Red Planet". http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-perseverance-mars-rover-extracts-first-oxygen-from-red-planet. 
  72. ↑ "Nasa device extracts breathable oxygen from thin Martian air" (in en). The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/nasa-device-extracts-breathable-oxygen-from-thin-martian-air-1.4544767. 
  73. ↑ "In Depth | Parker Solar Probe". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/parker-solar-probe/in-depth. 
  74. ↑ "In Depth | James Webb Space Telescope". https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/james-webb-space-telescope/in-depth. 
  75. ↑ Bardan, Roxana (2022-10-11). "NASA Confirms DART Mission Impact Changed Asteroid's Motion in Space". http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-dart-mission-impact-changed-asteroid-s-motion-in-space. 
  76. ↑ "Why Chandrayaan-3 landed near the moon's south pole — and why everyone else wants to get there too" (in en). 2023-08-25. https://www.space.com/chandrayaan-3-moon-south-pole-why-nasa-wants-to-go-too. 

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