Published By: Satavisha

Five Unforgettable Space Missions In HistoryFive Unforgettable Space Missions In History

Humans have made phenomenal strides in space exploration and spaceflight in a relatively short amount of time since the first feats were accomplished.

Since 1957 Earth-orbiting robotic spacecraft and satellites have collected valuable data about the Sun, stars, other planetary bodies of our solar system, and the universe that lies beyond. Numerous robotic spacecraft have landed on the Venus, moon, Mars, Titan, four asteroids, and a comet and have visited all the major planets of the solar system, and have flown by Kuiper belt objects travelling in the inner solar system. Check out five unforgettable space missions in the history of space exploration.

Sputnik I - First Satellite in Space (1957)

Sputnik I launched on October 4, 1957, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome of the U.S.S.R and entered the orbit of the earth, becoming the first manmade object in space. The aluminium-alloy sphere orbited earth over 1,440 times in about 21 days before losing its signal. Sputnik, I helped mankind to successfully enter into the Space Age, and it remained in orbit until it burned up while re-entering our atmosphere on January 4, 1958.

First Man in Space (1961)

Cosmonaut Yury A. Gagarin, on April 12, 1961, was on board the Vostok 1 spacecraft, becoming the first human travelling to space. The voyage entailed one orbit around our planet, lasting 1 hour 29 minutes, and returned safely to earth. It also brought instant worldwide fame to Gagarin for making history.

The Lunar Landing (1969)

The landing of Apollo 11 spaceflight on July 20, 1969, achieved its goal of becoming the first humans to land on the Moon, which was arguably the most epoch-making event in 20th-century space exploration. The landing, flight, and return of the Apolo 11 to earth were witnessed on television by millions of people across the globe.

Vostok 6 - First Woman in Space (1963)

Before Mae Jemison, Christina Koch, and Sally Ride, there was Valentina Tereshkova - the 26-year-old Soviet cosmonaut who became the first woman who visited space in 1963, embarking on a three-day mission aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft. Tereshkova completed 41 orbits around the earth, inspiring generations of women astronauts for decades to come.

Venera 7 - First Landing on Another Planet (1970)

The Soviet Venera 7 became the first mission to successfully highlight the perils of Venus. It is also the first space mission that landed on another planet. The spacecraft could not last long on the surface of Venus — but it successfully accumulated valuable data for the scientists.

Humanity has always dreamt of exploring the cosmos, and these groundbreaking space missions finally helped achieve that dream.