Human Spaceflight & Space Stations: Sputnik to Tiangong
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/3. Astronomy & Planetary Science/04. Human Space Exploration & Stations • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Human spaceflight began with Sputnik 1 in 1957, followed by Yuri Gagarin's orbit in 1961 and the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969. Space stations like Mir, the ISS, and China's Tiangong have enabled long-duration habitation and research.
Chronological Storyline (45 Milestones)
Oct 4, 1957 CE
Sputnik 1 Launched
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, initiating the space age. #space #history
Sputnik 1 Launched By Andrey Butko - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4894894
Nov 3, 1957 CE
Sputnik 2 Carries Laika
Sputnik 2 carries the dog Laika, the first living creature in orbit, though she died hours after launch. #space #animals
Sputnik 2 Carries Laika By Laika ac from USA - Sputnik 2 Replica, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31724645
Jan 31, 1958 CE
Explorer 1 Launched
The US launches Explorer 1, its first satellite, discovering the Van Allen radiation belts. #space #science
Explorer 1 Launched By NASA - [1], [2], [3], Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=404760
Sep 12, 1959 CE
Luna 2 Reaches Moon
Soviet Luna 2 becomes the first human-made object to impact the Moon. #space #moon
Luna 2 Reaches Moon By NASA/NSSDCA (public domain) - https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-014A, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107577869
Apr 12, 1961 CE
Vostok 1: First Human in Space
Yuri Gagarin orbits Earth aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space. #space #history
Vostok 1: First Human in Space By ТАСС - Фото опубликовано на различных официальных российских интернет-ресурсах в разных вариациях: Mos.ru: Выставка к 90-летию со дня рождения Юрия Гагарина откроется в Музее космонавтики Duma.gov.ru: Вячеслав Володин поздравил россиян с Днем космонавтики Deti.gov.ru: 12 апреля — День космонавтики. Uralfo.gov.ru: День космонавтики Исходники: Космический Колумб. 55 лет полету Юрия Гагарина ([1]) Отклики на первый полет человека в космос ([2]) Космическое обаяние: 15 неподражаемых улыбок Юрия Гагарина, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=177890904
May 5, 1961 CE
First US Astronaut in Space
Alan Shepard makes a suborbital flight aboard Freedom 7, becoming the first American in space. #space #history
First US Astronaut in Space By NASA - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8tyn2ywfwze9yqi/AACaz7H8dK1KY5AT1zkH_Wp1a?dl=0, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111061648
Feb 20, 1962 CE
First US Orbital Flight
John Glenn orbits Earth three times aboard Friendship 7, becoming the first American to orbit. #space #history
First US Orbital Flight By NASA - http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/luceneweb/caption.jsp?searchpage=true&keywords=glenn%20mercury&textsearch=Go&hitsperpage=30&pageno=1&photoId=S62-00303, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2130785
Jun 16, 1963 CE
First Woman in Space
Valentina Tereshkova orbits Earth aboard Vostok 6, becoming the first woman in space. #space #women
First Woman in Space By Andrew Gray - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47530025
Mar 18, 1965 CE
First Spacewalk
Alexei Leonov performs the first extravehicular activity (spacewalk) during Voskhod 2. #space #history
First Spacewalk By Soviet Space Program, traced to SVG by C records - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88325869
Feb 3, 1966 CE
First Soft Landing on Moon
Soviet Luna 9 makes the first soft landing on the Moon and transmits photos. #space #moon
First Soft Landing on Moon By Pline - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5940859
Jan 27, 1967 CE
Apollo 1 Fire
A cabin fire during a test kills Apollo 1 astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee, leading to safety redesigns. #space #tragedy
Apollo 1 Fire By NASA/photographer unknown - NASA Images, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111185
Dec 21, 1968 CE
Apollo 8 Orbits Moon
Apollo 8 becomes the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon, with astronauts Borman, Lovell, and Anders. #space #moon
Apollo 8 Orbits Moon By NASA/Bill Anders - http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/a410/AS8-14-2383HR.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=306267
Jul 20, 1969 CE
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin land on the Moon, with Armstrong taking the first steps. #space #history
Apollo 11 Moon Landing By Neil A. Armstrong - https://tothemoon.im-ldi.com/gallery/Apollo/11/7#AS11-40-5903, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=170640780
Apr 11, 1970 CE
Apollo 13 Crisis
An oxygen tank explosion forces Apollo 13 to abort its Moon mission; crew returns safely. #space #survival
Apollo 13 Crisis By NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo13/html/s69-60662.html http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo-13/apollo-13.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=969578
Apr 19, 1971 CE
Salyut 1: First Space Station
The Soviet Union launches Salyut 1, the first space station, though the first crew dies during reentry. #space #station
Salyut 1: First Space Station By Salyut_program_insignia.jpg: derivative work: AmishSexy (talk) - Salyut_program_insignia.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5986375
Jul 26, 1971 CE
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover
Apollo 15 deploys the first Lunar Roving Vehicle, allowing greater exploration of the Moon. #space #moon
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover By NASA Johnson Space Center Restored by Bammesk - This file was derived from: AS15-88-11866 (21648389932).jpg Original by: Project Apollo Archive at https://www.flickr.com/photos/projectapolloarchive/21648389932/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91388729
May 14, 1973 CE
Skylab Launched
The US launches Skylab, its first space station, hosting three crews until 1974. #space #station
Skylab Launched By NASA (Crew of Skylab 4) - grin.hq.nasa.gov at the Wayback Machine (archived 2001-02-22), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12043872
Jul 17, 1975 CE
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
US Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit, symbolizing détente and enabling future cooperation. #space #history
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project By NASA - NASA Human Space Flight Gallery (image link), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3156351
Apr 12, 1981 CE
First Space Shuttle Flight
Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-1, the first reusable spacecraft. #space #shuttle
First Space Shuttle Flight By NASA - https://images.nasa.gov/details/81pc0382 http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000650.html on the Wayback Machine at the Wayback Machine http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/IMAGES/LARGE/GPN-2000-000650.jpg on the Wayback Machine at the Wayback Machine, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=199486
Jan 28, 1986 CE
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster
Challenger breaks apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members. #space #tragedy
Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster By Kennedy Space Center - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/10697912315/in/album-72157630719371642/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=530754
Feb 20, 1986 CE
Mir Space Station Launched
The Soviet Union launches the Mir core module, which becomes a long-duration space station until 2001. #space #station
Mir Space Station Launched By NASA - https://archive.org/details/STS089-340-035, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18427023
Apr 24, 1990 CE
Hubble Space Telescope Launched
Space Shuttle Discovery deploys the Hubble Space Telescope, revolutionizing astronomy. #space #telescope
Hubble Space Telescope Launched By NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-125/html/s125e012050.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6833760
Nov 20, 1998 CE
ISS Construction Begins
The first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, is launched, starting a multinational project. #space #station
ISS Construction Begins By NASA - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/51749924967/in/photostream/; see also https://images.nasa.gov/details-jsc2021e064211_alt, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113438072
Nov 2, 2000 CE
First ISS Crew Arrives
Expedition 1 arrives at the ISS, beginning continuous human presence on the station. #space #station
First ISS Crew Arrives By NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/assembly/html/s97e5009.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4196311
Feb 1, 2003 CE
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster
Columbia disintegrates during reentry, killing all seven crew members. #space #tragedy
Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster By Unknown author - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNfEUkxmliQ – View/save archived versions on archive.org, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150998654
Oct 15, 2003 CE
China's First Human Spaceflight
Yang Liwei orbits Earth aboard Shenzhou 5, making China the third country to send a human into space. #space #china
China's First Human Spaceflight By Shujianyang - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134224775
Jul 26, 2005 CE
Space Shuttle Return to Flight
STS-114 marks the first Shuttle mission after the Columbia disaster, with safety improvements. #space #shuttle
Space Shuttle Return to Flight By NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-11/html/iss011e11263.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1957061
Sep 27, 2008 CE
First Chinese Spacewalk
Zhai Zhigang performs China's first spacewalk during Shenzhou 7. #space #china
First Chinese Spacewalk By 中国新闻社 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFkHyl1NS0 – View/save archived versions on archive.org, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122166753
Jul 21, 2011 CE
Final Space Shuttle Mission
Atlantis lands, ending the 30-year Space Shuttle program. #space #shuttle
Final Space Shuttle Mission By Bill Ingalls - NASA, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15858173
May 25, 2012 CE
First Commercial Cargo Mission to ISS
SpaceX's Dragon becomes the first commercial spacecraft to dock with the ISS. #space #commercial
First Commercial Cargo Mission to ISS By NASA - http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-33/html/iss033e011397.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22032463
Jun 11, 2013 CE
Shenzhou 10 Docks with Tiangong-1
China's Shenzhou 10 crew docks with the Tiangong-1 space station, advancing Chinese space station capabilities. #space #china
Shenzhou 10 Docks with Tiangong-1 By Craigboy - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15029163
Nov 12, 2014 CE
Philae Lands on Comet
ESA's Rosetta mission deploys the Philae lander on comet 67P, a first. #space #comet )
Philae Lands on Comet By ESA/ATG medialab - https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/11206758513/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36825335
Mar 1, 2015 CE
One-Year ISS Mission Begins
Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko begin a year-long mission on the ISS to study long-duration effects. #space #science
One-Year ISS Mission Begins By NASA Space Flight Awareness - http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/sfa/products.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36850998
Sep 15, 2016 CE
Tiangong-2 Launched
China launches Tiangong-2, a space laboratory for testing technologies for a future space station. #space #china
Tiangong-2 Launched By Jianyu Lei et al. - https://doi.org/10.34133/space.0006, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130247959
Feb 19, 2017 CE
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches from Historic Pad
SpaceX launches from Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A, used for Apollo and Shuttle missions. #space #commercial
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches from Historic Pad By NASA Johnson - iss050e052128, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56593834
Feb 6, 2018 CE
Falcon Heavy Maiden Flight
SpaceX launches the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful operational rocket, carrying a Tesla Roadster. #space #rocket
Falcon Heavy Maiden Flight By SpaceX - Falcon Heavy Demo Mission, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66389585
Jan 3, 2019 CE
Chang'e-4 Lands on Far Side of Moon
China's Chang'e-4 makes the first landing on the far side of the Moon. #space #moon
Chang'e-4 Lands on Far Side of Moon By CSNA/Siyu Zhang/Kevin M. Gill - ChangE-4 - PCAM, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106499801
May 30, 2020 CE
First Crewed Commercial Spaceflight
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-2 launches astronauts Behnken and Hurley to the ISS, restoring US crew launch capability. #space #commercial
First Crewed Commercial Spaceflight By Joel Kowsky - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/49953835192/in/photostream/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90807538
Apr 29, 2021 CE
Tianhe Core Module Launched
China launches the Tianhe core module, the first part of the Tiangong space station. #space #china )
Tianhe Core Module Launched By Shujianyang - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110096657
Jun 17, 2021 CE
First Crew to Tiangong
Shenzhou 12 crew arrives at Tianhe, beginning the first long-duration stay on China's space station. #space #china
First Crew to Tiangong By 中国新闻网 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mc9NBGsgVs – View/save archived versions on archive.org, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=106855354
Jul 11, 2021 CE
First Suborbital Space Tourism Flight
Virgin Galactic's Unity 22 carries Richard Branson and crew to space, marking a milestone in space tourism. #space #tourism
First Suborbital Space Tourism Flight By Ronrosano - Photo shot on site with Nikon D800E + 20mm f2.8 lens Previously published: https://twitter.com/ronrosano/status/701518497814188032, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47101678
Oct 16, 2021 CE
Shenzhou 13: Six-Month Mission
China launches Shenzhou 13 with a crew of three for a six-month stay on Tiangong, including the first Chinese woman to visit the station. #space #china
Shenzhou 13: Six-Month Mission By Created by ForrestXYC, photoshopped by Ib - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=116522008
Jul 24, 2022 CE
Wentian Lab Module Docks with Tiangong
China launches the Wentian lab module, expanding the Tiangong space station. #space #china )
Oct 31, 2022 CE
Mengtian Lab Module Docks with Tiangong
China launches the Mengtian lab module, completing the Tiangong space station's T-shaped configuration. #space #china )
May 30, 2023 CE
Shenzhou 16: First Civilian in Chinese Space
Shenzhou 16 carries Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian astronaut, to Tiangong. #space #china
Shenzhou 16: First Civilian in Chinese Space By 中国新闻社 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFkN0lzXbLo&ab_channel=%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB%E7%A4%BE – View/save archived versions on archive.org, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=132500390
