1962 ⟶ John Glenn Orbits Earth, Mariner 2 Flies by Venus
John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth. Marine...
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🚀 NASA Established
July 29 marks the beginning of the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), agency newly created by the United States to catch up with Soviet space technologies. It absorbs all research centers and staffs of the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), an organization founded in 1915.⟶
Space ExplorationNASASpace RaceCold WarGovernment AgenciesScientific OrganizationsAeronauticsNACA
United States👨🚀 First Hominid and American in Space
As part of NASA's Mercury-Redstone 2 mission, the chimpanzee Ham becomes the first Hominidae in space. Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit Earth in April. NASA astronaut Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space a month later, but does not go into orbit.⟶
Space ExplorationNASASpace RaceMercury-Redstone ProgramYuri GagarinAlan ShepardHam the Chimp
United States
Soviet Union🚀 John Glenn Orbits Earth, Mariner 2 Flies by Venus
John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth. Mariner 2 becomes the first probe to reach another planet, flying past Venus in December. NASA follows this with the successful Mariner 4 mission to Mars in 1965, both the US and the USSR send many more probes to planets through the rest of the 1960s and 1970s.⟶
Space ExplorationNASASpace RacePlanetary ScienceVenusMarsCold WarAstronautsRockets
United States🚀 Apollo 8: First Human Spaceflight to Orbit Another Celestial Body
🚀 Viking 1 and 2 Space Probes Arrive at Mars
NASA's Viking 1 and Viking 2 space probes arrive at Mars. Each Viking mission consists of an orbiter, which photographs the planet from above, and a lander, which touches down on the surface, analyzes the rocks, and searches unsuccessfully for life.⟶
Space ExplorationMarsPlanetary ScienceNASAViking ProgramSpace Probes1970sAstrobiology
United States🛰️ Magellan Probe Maps Venus
The Magellan probe, launched by NASA, arrives at Venus and spends three years mapping the planet with radar. Magellan is the first in a new wave of probes that include Galileo, which arrives at Jupiter in 1995, and Cassini which arrives at Saturn in 2004.⟶
Space ExplorationVenusPlanetary ScienceRadar MappingMagellanNASA1980sAstronomyGeologyRemote Sensing
United States