Space Events by Date

Discover what happened in space on any given date with NASA imagery and historical events

Time Machine

• Explore any date from June 16, 1995 to today • Discover NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day • Learn about historical space events

Space History Timeline

October 4, 1957

First artificial satellite launched by Soviet Union

Started the Space Age

April 12, 1961

First human in space

Proved humans could survive in space

July 20, 1969

First humans land on the Moon

Greatest achievement in space exploration

August 20, 1977

Spacecraft to explore outer planets

First spacecraft to reach interstellar space

April 24, 1990

Space telescope revolutionizes astronomy

Transformed our view of the universe

November 20, 1998

International Space Station construction begins

Symbol of international cooperation

January 4, 2004

Mars Exploration Rover begins mission

Proved Mars once had water

May 25, 2012

First commercial spacecraft to ISS

Started commercial spaceflight era

February 18, 2021

Advanced Mars rover lands successfully

Searching for signs of ancient life on Mars

December 25, 2021

Most powerful space telescope launched

Will see the first galaxies in the universe