History of Space exploration in Timeline

Space exploration encompasses the physical investigation of outer space. This is achieved through both uncrewed robotic space probes and crewed human spaceflights. It represents a significant endeavor pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and technological capabilities. Space exploration leads to new discoveries about the universe.

1950: Arthur C. Clarke's Motivations for Space Exploration

In 1950, Arthur C. Clarke presented motivations for human space exploration in his book "Interplanetary Flight", arguing that humanity must expand into space to avoid stagnation and death.

Interplanetary Flight

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1963: Valentina Tereshkova First Woman in Space

In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space.

1973: Start of Jupiter Exploration by NASA Spacecraft

Since 1973, NASA spacecraft have been exploring Jupiter through automated missions, primarily flybys, with Galileo and Juno as the only spacecraft to orbit the planet.

1979: Pioneer 11 Flyby of Saturn

In 1979, Pioneer 11 conducted a flyby of Saturn, marking an early stage in the exploration of the planet.

1980: Voyager 1 Flyby of Saturn

In 1980, Voyager 1 performed a flyby of Saturn, contributing to the growing knowledge of the planet.

1982: Voyager 2 Flyby of Saturn

In 1982, Voyager 2 completed a flyby of Saturn, continuing the exploration of the planet begun by previous missions.

1985: International Cometary Explorer First Comet Fly-by

In 1985, the International Cometary Explorer conducted the first comet fly-by of 21P/Giacobini-Zinner before studying Halley's Comet.

January 1986: Voyager 2 Closest Approach to Uranus

On January 24, 1986, Voyager 2 made its closest approach to Uranus, studying its atmosphere, magnetosphere, ring system, and moons.

1986: Voyager 2 Visit to Neptune

During Voyager 2's visit to Neptune in 1986, the spacecraft discovered Neptune's banding, visible clouds, auroras, and a large anticyclone storm, as well as the fastest winds in the Solar System and several new moons and rings. Voyager 2 also gathered data supporting the view that Neptune's largest moon, Triton, is a captured Kuiper belt object.

August 1989: Voyager 2 Flyby of Neptune

On August 25, 1989, Voyager 2 performed a flyby of Neptune, which is the sole visit to the system as of 2025.

1991: Galileo flyby of 951 Gaspra

In 1991, the Galileo probe flew past asteroid 951 Gaspra. This was the first time a probe visited an asteroid.

1993: Galileo flyby of 243 Ida

In 1993, the Galileo probe flew past asteroid 243 Ida. This was the second asteroid visited by the Galileo probe during its mission.

2000: NEAR Shoemaker Landing on 433 Eros

In 2000, the NEAR Shoemaker probe performed the first landing on an asteroid, 433 Eros, after completing an orbital survey of the object.

May 2003: Hayabusa launch

In May 2003, the Hayabusa robotic spacecraft was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to collect a sample from asteroid 25143 Itokawa and return it to Earth.

July 2003: Public Support for Space Program

According to an Associated Press Poll conducted in July 2003, 71% of U.S. citizens agreed that the space program is "a good investment".

2003: New Horizons Mission Funding Granted

In 2003, the New Horizons mission to Pluto received funding from the United States government after a political battle.

2004: Cassini Enters Saturn Orbit

In 2004, the Cassini spacecraft began its orbital mission around Saturn, leading to detailed observations until 2017.

September 2005: Hayabusa rendezvous with Itokawa

In September 2005, the Hayabusa spacecraft rendezvoused with the near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa. Hayabusa then studied the asteroid's characteristics.

November 2005: Hayabusa Lands on Itokawa

In November 2005, the Hayabusa spacecraft landed on asteroid Itokawa twice to collect samples.

January 2006: New Horizons Launched

On January 19, 2006, the New Horizons spacecraft was successfully launched on its mission to Pluto.

2006: NASA's Plan for a Permanent Moon Base

At the end of 2006, NASA announced its plans to build a permanent Moon base with a continual presence by 2024.

2007: Launch of NASA's Dawn Spacecraft

In 2007, NASA's Dawn spacecraft was launched to visit the dwarf planet Ceres and the asteroid 4 Vesta, two of the three largest asteroids.

2007: New Horizons Jupiter Gravity Assist

In early 2007, the New Horizons spacecraft used a gravity assist from Jupiter to help propel it towards Pluto.

June 2010: Hayabusa Returns to Earth

On June 13, 2010, the Hayabusa spacecraft returned to Earth with samples from asteroid Itokawa.

2012: Ratification of Outer Space Treaty by Spacefaring Nations

As of 2012, the Outer Space Treaty, which proscribes national territorial claims in outer space, had been ratified by all spacefaring nations.

2014: Philae Landing on Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko

In 2014, the Philae lander successfully landed on Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko as part of the broader Rosetta mission.

July 2015: New Horizons Closest Approach to Pluto

On July 14, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft made its closest approach to Pluto; scientific observations began five months prior and continued for 16 days after.

2016: Breakthrough Starshot Founded

In 2016, Breakthrough Starshot, a research and engineering project to develop light sail spacecraft for interstellar travel, was founded by Yuri Milner, Stephen Hawking, and Mark Zuckerberg.

2017: End of Cassini Mission

In 2017, the Cassini spacecraft's orbital mission around Saturn concluded after extensive observations.

2017: Authorization of Lunar Campaign by Space Policy Directive 1

In 2017, the lunar campaign was authorized by Space Policy Directive 1, utilizing programs such as Orion, the Lunar Gateway, and Commercial Lunar Payload Services.

2018: First All-Female Spacewalk

In 2018, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir performed the first all-female spacewalk, both of whom had previously participated in spacewalks with NASA.

2019: New Horizons Flyby of Arrokoth

In 2019, the New Horizons mission conducted a flyby of the small planetesimal Arrokoth in the Kuiper belt, as its first extended mission.

2020: NASA Request for Artemis Funding

In 2020, NASA requested $1.6 billion in additional funding for Artemis; the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee requested a five-year budget profile from NASA.

2022: First Artemis Mission Launched

In 2022, the first Artemis mission was launched.

2024: First Artemis Mission Launched and First CLPS Lander Landed

In 2024, the first Artemis mission was launched in 2022 and the first CLPS lander landed on the Moon, marking the first US spacecraft to land since Apollo 17.