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Early 16th Century
The idea of space and humanity’s ventures into exploring the world outside of Earth began hundreds of years ago, predating to the 16th century when an Italian astronomer and physicist, Galileo Galilei, observes the night sky through a telescopic lens. From then, a spark was lit with humanity investing extensive efforts and research into the wonders and mysteries of outer space.
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1904
The first serious work showcasing how physical space exploration was theoretically possible “The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices” was published by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a Russian rocket scientist and pioneer of astronautic theory.
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1914 - 1926
An American engineer and physicist by the name of Robert H. Goddard files for patents detailing on the idea of multistage and liquid-fueled rockets. He would later realize this idea through the launch of the first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16th, 1926.
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1928
German aeronautic engineer, Alexander Lippisch successfully designs and launches the world’s first successful rocket-powered full-size aircraft.
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1944
The V-2 Rocket, created and launched by German National Socialists defense force, “Wehrmacht”, crosses what would later be defined as the “Kármán line” and hence the first spaceflight in history.
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1945
Discussion begins with the publication of an article in a UK magazine, titled “Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?” sparks the idea of geostationary satellites as a means of communication.
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1946 - 1947
The US conducts the first space research flight conducting cosmic radiation experiments and later captures the first image of the Earth. On February 20th, 1947, the United States launched the first animals in space (fruit flies).
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1957 - 1960
The USSR makes several achievements in the field of outer space with launching the first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), first artificial satellite and subsequently receiving the first signals from space. A dog by the name of Laika, was also the first mammal launched into orbit by the USSR. In 1959, The USSR made the first impact of a spacecraft onto the moon along with the first delivery of national pennants to a celestial body. In 1960, the first probe was launched in an attempt to reach Mars.
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1961
NASA (US) launches the first chimpanzee in space where it performed tasks. In the same year, the USSR conducted the first ever human spaceflight (Yuri Gagarin) piloted by Mission Control on Earth. The US also conducts the first human-piloted space flight (Alan Shepard).
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1963
The USSR launches the first woman into space (Valentina Tereshkova)
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1966
The USSR makes the first impact on Venus. Following august, NASA launches the first probe to map the surface of the moon.
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1969
NASA makes history with the Apollo 11 delivering the first human onto a celestial object other than the Earth (the Moon).
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1970-1971
The USSR sends and lands the first lunar rover on the surface of the Moon. In the following year, the first space station was also launched by the USSR. The USSR also makes the first impact onto Mars.
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1972 - 1974
NASA launches spacecraft making the first mission to ever enter the asteroid belt and leave the inner Solar System. In the subsequent year, NASA made the first spacecraft flybys of Jupiter and Mercury.
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1975
The European Space Agency (ESA) is formed. The USSR also makes the first orbit around Venus in the same year.
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1976 -1981
NASA makes significant discoveries & achievements in five years with collecting soil samples from Mars, spacecraft encounter Five Jovian moons, discovering volcanism on Io, getting closeup photos of Titan, and launching the first reusable manned orbital spacecraft.
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1982
The USSR collects the first Venus soil samples and sound recording of another world. The first mixed gender crew and first woman was aboard the space station on August 19, 1982.
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1983
NASA launches the first spacecraft beyond the orbit of Neptune, which makes the first spacecraft to pass beyond all Solar System planets.
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1986
NASA launches spacecraft to make the first Uranus flyby. Following the event, on March 4th, the first major American space loss, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, occurred with an explosion soon after liftoff which killed, among others, Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher. The USSR conducted the first flyby of a comment (Halley’s Comet).
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1988
Canada (y a y !) discovers the first exoplanet, Gamma Cephei Ab.
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1989 - 1990
NASA conducts the first Neptune flyby. In the same year, NASA also detected the first orbital cosmic microwave observatory. On February 14th (on Valentines Day), 1990 NASA also took the first photograph of the entire Solar System. Later in April, the Hubble Space Telescope is launched
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1995
NASA achieves the first orbit around and mission into Jupiter.
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1997
The US lands the first operational rover on Mars.
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1998
The International Space Station, a multinational space station, is launched, making it the largest man-made object built in space to date.
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2000-2001
NASA orbits and lands for the first time on an asteroid (433 Eros)
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2004-2005
The US, ESA, and Italy conduct the first orbit around Saturn. The following year, the first landing on Titan was conducted, making it the first landing on a celestial object in the outer Solar System.
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2011
NASA conducts the first orbit around Mercury. Following July, the first orbit of the giant asteroid, Vesta, is conducted.
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2014
The ESA makes the first probe launch on a comet (67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko).
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2015
The US achieves the first orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres and also conducts a flyby of Pluto. In August, a join effort conducted by both NASA and JAXA (Japan) successfully grows and eats the first food in space (lettuce)
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2019
CNSA (China) conducts the first soft landing on the far side of the Moon. CNSA also successfully achieves the first germination of seeds on another celestial body.
!Science Fiction Universe