2003 ⟶ Space Shuttle Columbia Disintegrates Upon Reentry
Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon reentry into Earth...
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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🚀 Maiden Flight of Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia, the first of NASA's reusable Space Shuttles, makes its maiden flight, ten years in development, the Shuttle will make space travel routine and eventually open the path for a new International Space Station.⟶
Space ShuttleNASASpace ExplorationColumbia1980sReusable SpacecraftAerospace EngineeringTechnology
United States🚀 Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster and Program Halt
NASA's spaceflight program comes to a halt when Space Shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after launch. A thorough inquiry and modifications to the rest of the fleet kept the shuttles on the ground for nearly three years.⟶
Space ExplorationSpace ShuttleNASASpaceflightEngineeringDisaster1980sChallengerAeronauticsSpace Program
United States🔭 Hubble Space Telescope Launched and Initial Difficulties
The Hubble Space Telescope, the first large optical telescope in orbit, is launched using the Space Shuttle, but astronomers soon discovered that it is crippled by a problem with its mirror. A complex repair mission in 1993 allows the telescope to start producing spectacular images of distant stars, nebulae, and galaxies.⟶
AstronomySpace TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeSpace ExplorationOptical AstronomyNASA1990sCosmologyAstrophysicsEngineering
United States🚀 Space Shuttle Columbia Disintegrates Upon Reentry
Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrates upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere⟶
Space ExplorationSpace Shuttle ProgramNASAAeronauticsSpace Disasters21st Century ScienceEngineering
United States