Space Travel Timeline
Starting with the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, a new age of exploration began. This age was focused on space: the final frontier. This new age meant every little first was significant, especially in the context of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The pressure to succeed, and be the first to do so pushed many involved with space exploration to the breaking point. Bob Ebeling was one of the engineers involved with Challenger's boosters. He attempted to warn NASA of the dangers of launching Challenger that day, under the conditions, but failed. For over 30 years he was haunted by his 'failure', saying "I think that was one of the mistakes that God made. He shouldn’t have picked me for that job. I don’t know.” Ebeling was just one of the many people pushed to their limit because of the breakneck pace at which space travel was advancing. Below is a timeline, which goes along with the images at the bottom of the page to demonstrate the major advancements, and significant events of space travel leading up to, and including, Challenger SLS-51-L's explosion.
EVENTS:
October 4, 1957- Sputnik launched (first artificial satellite)
November 3, 1957- Sputnik II launched with first living space traveller (Laika, a dog)
July 29, 1958- National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 creates NASA
January 31, 1958- Explorer 1 launched successfully (first US artificial satellite)
October, 1959- Soviets land a probe on the moon
May, 1961- JFK pledges to have a US man on the moon and safely returned to Earth within 10 years
April, 1961- Yuri Gagarin becomes first man into space when Soviets launch him into Earth orbit
July 20, 1969- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become first men on moon
April 12, 1981- Columbia (the first space shuttle) is successfully launched and landed
January 28, 1986- Challenger explodes
EVENTS:
October 4, 1957- Sputnik launched (first artificial satellite)
November 3, 1957- Sputnik II launched with first living space traveller (Laika, a dog)
July 29, 1958- National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 creates NASA
January 31, 1958- Explorer 1 launched successfully (first US artificial satellite)
October, 1959- Soviets land a probe on the moon
May, 1961- JFK pledges to have a US man on the moon and safely returned to Earth within 10 years
April, 1961- Yuri Gagarin becomes first man into space when Soviets launch him into Earth orbit
July 20, 1969- Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become first men on moon
April 12, 1981- Columbia (the first space shuttle) is successfully launched and landed
January 28, 1986- Challenger explodes