Space Exploration Timeline

Historic space exploration missions. Grouped by year of launch.

2008

STS-122 (Atlantis) Delivered ESA's Columbus laboratory module to ISS. Launched 7FEB2008
STS-123 (Endeavour) Delivered Japan's Experiment Logistics Module to ISS. Launched 11MAR2008
STS-124 (Discovery) Delivered Japan's Kibo laboratory and the Japanese Remote Manipulator System. Launched 31MAY2008

Soyuz TMA-12 Launched 8APR2008

Progress M-63 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 5FEB2008
Progress M-64 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 14MAY2008
Progress M-65 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 10SEPT2008

ATV-1 (Jules Verne) First flight of the European Automated Transfer Vehicle . Launched 8MAR2008

2007

STS-117 (Atlantis) Delivered a truss segment and set of solar arrays to ISS. Launched 8JUN2007
STS-118 (Endeavour) Delivered a truss segment and cargo to ISS. Launched 8AUG2007
STS-120 (Discovery) Delivered Node 2 (Harmony) module to ISS. Launched 23OCT2007

Soyuz TMA-10 Launched 7APR2007
Soyuz TMA-11 Launched 10OCT2007

Progress M-59 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 18JAN2007
Progress M-60 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 12MAY2007
Progress M-61 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 2AUG2007
Progress M-62 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 23DEC2007

KAGUYA(SELENE) Lunar Probe. launched on 14SEP2007

DAWN Probe to orbit Ceres and Vesta. Launched on 27SEP2007

Phoenix - Mission to land on Mars. Launched on 4AUG2007. Landed on 25May2008

2006

STS-115 (Atlantis)
STS-116 (Discovery)
STS-121 (Discovery)

Soyuz TMA-8
Soyuz TMA-9

Progress M-56 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 24APR2006
Progress M-57 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 24JUN2006
Progress M-58 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 23OCT2006

New Horizons (Pluto/Charon and Kuiper Belt Flyby)

2005

STS-114

Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-7

Progress M-52 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 28FEB2005
Progress M-53 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 16JUN2005
Progress M-54 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 8SEPT2005
Progress M-55 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 21DEC2005

Shenzhou 6

Deep Impact (First Comet Impact)
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Mars Orbiter)
Venus Express (Venus Polar Orbiter)

2004

SpaceShipOne flight 15P
SpaceShipOne flight 16P
SpaceShipOne flight 17P

Soyuz TMA-4
Soyuz TMA-5

Progress M1-11 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 29JAN2004
Progress M-49 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 25MAY2004
Progress M-50 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 11AUG2004
Progress M-51 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 23DEC2004

Rosetta (Comet Orbiter and Lander)
MESSENGER (Mercury Orbiter)

2003

STS-107 (Columbia - Loss of vehicle and crew)

Soyuz TMA-2
Soyuz TMA-3

Shenzhou 5

Progress M-47 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 2FEB2003
Progress M1-10 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 8JUN2003
Progress M-48 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 29AUG2003

Hayabusa (Muses-C) (Asteroid Sample Return)
Mars Exploration Rovers - A (Mars Rover)
Mars Exploration Rovers - B (Mars Rover)
Mars Express (Mars Orbiter/Attempted Lander)
SMART 1 (Lunar Orbiter)

2002

STS-109 (Columbia)
STS-110 (Atlantis)
STS-111 (Endeavour)
STS-112 (Atlantis)
STS-113 (Endeavour)

Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TMA-1

Progress M1-8 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 21MAR2002
Progress M-46 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 26JUN2002
Progress M1-9 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 25SEPT2002

2001

STS-98 (Atlantis)
STS-102 (Discovery)
STS-100 (Endeavour)
STS-104 (Atlantis)
STS-105 (Discovery)
STS-108 (Endeavour)

Soyuz TM-33

Progress M1-44 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 26FEB2001
Progress M1-6 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 20MAY2001
Progress M-45 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 21AUG2001
Progress M1-7 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 26NOV2001

Pirs Module Russian airlock, Pirs, launched to ISS. Launched 14SEPT2001

Mars Odyssey (Mars Orbiter)
Genesis (Solar Wind Sample Return)

2000

STS-92 (Discovery)
STS-97 (Endeavour)
STS-99 (Endeavour)
STS-101 (Atlantis)
STS-106 (Atlantis)

Soyuz TM-30
Soyuz TM-31

Progress M1-3 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 6AUG2000
Progress M1-4 Delivered cargo to ISS. Launched 16NOV2000

Zvezda Module Russian Service Module launched to ISS. Launched 12JUL2000

1999

STS-93 (Columbia)
STS-96 (Discovery)
STS-103 (Discovery)

Soyuz TM-29

Mars Polar Lander (Attempted Mars Lander)
Deep Space 2 (Attempted Mars Penetrators)
Stardust (1st Comet Coma Sample Return)

1998

STS-88 (Endeavour)
STS-89 (Endeavour)
STS-90 (Columbia)
STS-91 (Discovery)
STS-95 (Discovery)

Soyuz TM-27
Soyuz TM-28

Zarya Module Functional Cargo Block launched to ISS. Launched 20NOV1998

Lunar Prospector (Lunar Orbiter)
Nozomi (Planet-B) (Attempted Mars Orbiter)
Deep Space 1 (Asteroid and Comet Flyby)
Mars Climate Orbiter (Attempted Mars Orbiter)

1997

STS-81 (Atlantis)
STS-82 (Discovery)
STS-83 (Columbia)
STS-84 (Atlantis)
STS-85 (Discovery)
STS-86 (Atlantis)
STS-87 (Columbia)
STS-94 (Columbia)

Soyuz TM-25
Soyuz TM-26

Cassini-Huygens (First Saturn Orbiter, First Titan Lander)

1996

STS-72 (Endeavour)
STS-75 (Columbia)
STS-76 (Atlantis)
STS-77 (Endeavour)
STS-78 (Columbia)
STS-79 (Atlantis)
STS-80 (Columbia)

Soyuz TM-23
Soyuz TM-24

NEAR (First Asteroid Orbiter)
Mars Global Surveyor (Mars Orbiter)
Mars Pathfinder (Mars Lander and Rover)

1995

STS-63 (Discovery)
STS-67 (Endeavour)
STS-69 (Endeavour)
STS-70 (Discovery)
STS-71 (Atlantis)
STS-73 (Columbia)
STS-74 (Atlantis)

Soyuz TM-21
Soyuz TM-22

SOHO (Solar Observatory)

1994

STS-59 (Endeavour)
STS-60 (Discovery)
STS-62 (Columbia)
STS-64 (Discovery)
STS-65 (Columbia)
STS-66 (Atlantis)
STS-68 (Endeavour)

Soyuz TM-18
Soyuz TM-19
Soyuz TM-20

Clementine (Lunar Orbiter)

1993

STS-51 (Discovery)
STS-54 (Endeavour)
STS-55 (Columbia)
STS-56 (Discovery)
STS-57 (Endeavour)
STS-58 (Columbia)
STS-61 (Endeavour)

Soyuz TM-16
Soyuz TM-17

1992

STS-42 (Discovery)
STS-45 (Atlantis)
STS-46 (Atlantis)
STS-47 (Endeavour)
STS-49 (Endeavour)
STS-50 (Columbia)
STS-52 (Columbia)
STS-53 (Discovery)

Soyuz TM-14
Soyuz TM-15

1991

STS-37 (Atlantis)
STS-39 (Discovery)
STS-40 (Columbia)
STS-43 (Atlantis)
STS-44 (Atlantis)
STS-48 (Discovery)

Soyuz TM-12
Soyuz TM-13

1990

STS-31 (Discovery)
STS-32 (Columbia)
STS-35 (Columbia)
STS-36 (Atlantis)
STS-38 (Atlantis)
STS-41 (Discovery)

Soyuz TM-9
Soyuz TM-10
Soyuz TM-11

Hubble Space Telescope (Earth Orbiting Telescope)
Ulysses (Jupiter Flyby & Solar Polar Orbiter)

1989

STS-28 (Columbia)
STS-29 (Discovery)
STS-30 (Atlantis)
STS-33 (Discovery)
STS-34 (Atlantis)

Soyuz TM-8

Magellan (Venus Orbiter)
Galileo (Asteroid Flyby, First Jupiter Orbiter & First Jupiter Atmospheric Probe)

1988

STS-26 (Discovery)
STS-27 (Atlantis)

Soyuz TM-5
Soyuz TM-6
Soyuz TM-7

1987

Soyuz TM-2
Soyuz TM-3
Soyuz TM-4

1986

STS-61-C (Columbia) Launched 12JAN1986
STS-51-L (Challenger) Loss of vehicle and crew. Launched 28JAN1986

Soyuz T-15

1985

STS-51-C (Discovery) Launched 24JAN1985
STS-51-D (Discovery) Launched 12APR1985
STS-51-B (Challenger) Launched 29APR1985
STS-51-G (Discovery) Launched 17JUN1985
STS-51-F (Challenger) Launched 29JUL1985
STS-51-I (Discovery) Launched 27AUG1985
STS-51-J (Atlantis) Launched 3OCT1985
STS-61-A (Columbia) Launched 30OCT1985
STS-61-B (Atlantis) Launched 26NOV1985

Soyuz T-13
Soyuz T-14

Sakigake (Comet Halley Flyby)
Suisei (Planet-A) (Comet Halley Flyby)
Giotto (Comet Halley Flyby)

1984

Soyuz T-10
Soyuz T-11
Soyuz T-12

STS-41-B (Challenger) Launched 3FEB1984
STS-41-C (Challenger) Launched 6APR1984
STS-41-D (Discovery) Launched 30AUG1984
STS-41-G (Challenger) Launched 5OCT1984
STS-51-A (Discovery) Launched 8NOV1984

Vega 1 (Comet Halley Flyby & Venus Lander)
Vega 2 (Comet Halley Flyby & Venus Lander)

1983

STS-6 (Challenger) Launched 4APR1983
STS-7 (Challenger) Launched 18JUN1983
STS-8 (Challenger) Launched 30AUG1983
STS-9 (Columbia) Launched 28NOV1983

Soyuz T-8
Soyuz T-9
Soyuz T-10-1

Venera 15 (Venus Orbiter)
Venera 16 (Venus Orbiter)

1982

STS 3 (Columbia) Launched 22MAR1982
STS 4 (Columbia) Launched 27JUN1982
STS 5 (Columbia) Launched 11NOV1982

Soyuz T-5
Soyuz T-6
Soyuz T-7

1981

STS 1 (Columbia) First Shuttle Flight. Launched 12APR1981
STS 2 (Columbia) Launched 12NOV1981

Soyuz T-4
Soyuz 39
Soyuz 40

1980

Soyuz 35
Soyuz 36
Soyuz T-2
Soyuz 37
Soyuz 38
Soyuz T-3

Venera 13 (Venus Orbiter and Lander)
Venera 14 (Venus Orbiter and Lander)

1979

Soyuz 32
Soyuz 33
Soyuz 34

1978

Soyuz 27
Soyuz 28
Soyuz 29
Soyuz 30
Soyuz 31

1977

Soyuz 24
Soyuz 25
Soyuz 26

Voyager 1 (Jupiter & Saturn Flyby)
Voyager 2 (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune Flyby)

1976

Soyuz 21
Soyuz 22
Soyuz 23

Luna 24

1975

Apollo-Soyuz

Soyuz 17
Soyuz 18a
Soyuz 18
Soyuz 19

Viking 1 (Mars Lander and Orbiter)
Viking 2 (Mars Lander and Orbiter)

Venera 9 (First Venus Orbiter)
Venera 10

1974

Soyuz 14
Soyuz 15
Soyuz 16

Luna 22 (Lunar Orbiter)
Luna 23

1973

Skylab 2
Skylab 3
Skylab 4

Soyuz 12
Soyuz 13
Mariner 10 (First Mercury Flyby)

Pioneer 11 (First Saturn Flyby)

1972

Apollo 16
Apollo 17
Skylab 4

Luna 20

Pioneer 10 (First Jupiter Flyby)

1971

Apollo 14
Apollo 15

Soyuz 10
Soyuz 11

Luna 18
Luna 19

Mars 2 Mars Probe. Launched 19MAY1971
Mars 3 Mars Probe. Launched 28MAY1971

Mariner 9 Mars Orbiter. Launched 30MAY1971

1970

Apollo 13 (Landing Aborted)

Soyuz 9

Luna 16 (First Unmanned Lunar Sample Return)
Luna 17 Lunokhod 1 (First Lunar Rover)

Venera 7 (First Venus Lander)

1969

Apollo 9
Apollo 10
Apollo 11 (First manned lunar landing)
Apollo 12

Soyuz 4
Soyuz 5
Soyuz 6
Soyuz 7
Soyuz 8

Zond 7

Luna 15

Mariner 6 Mars fly-by probe. Launched on 24FEB1969

Mariner 7 Mars fly-by probe. Launched on 27MAR1969

Venera 5 Venus atmosphere probe. Launched on 5JAN1969

Venera 6 Venus atmosphere probe. Launched on 10JAN1969

1968

Apollo 7
Apollo 8 (1st Manned Lunar Orbiter)

Soyuz 2
Soyuz 3

Luna 14

Zond 6
Zond 5 (First Lunar Flyby and Return to Earth)

Surveyor 7

1967

Soyuz 1

Mariner 5

Venera 4 (First Venus Atmospheric Probe)

Lunar Orbiter 3
Lunar Orbiter 4
Lunar Orbiter 5

Surveyor 3
Surveyor 4
Surveyor 5
Surveyor 6

1966

Gemini 8
Gemini 9
Gemini 10
Gemini 11
Gemini 12

Luna 9 (First Lunar Lander)
Luna 10 (First Lunar Orbiter)

Lunar Orbiter 1
Lunar Orbiter 2

Surveyor 1
Surveyor 2

1965

Gemini 3
Gemini 4
Gemini 5
Gemini 6
Gemini 7

Ranger 8
Ranger 9

Luna 5
Luna 6
Luna 8

1964

Voskhod 1 (First 3 person crew)

Mariner 4 (First Mars Flyby)

Ranger 6
Ranger 7

1963

Mercury-Atlas 9

Vostok 5
Vostok 6

1962

Mercury-Atlas 6
Mercury-Atlas 7
Mercury-Atlas 8

Vostok 3
Vostok 4

Voskhod 2 (Aleksei Leonov makes the first spacewalk)

Mariner 2 (First Venus Flyby) Launched on 27AUG62
Ranger 3
Ranger 4 (Lunar Impact)
Ranger 5

1961

Mercury-Redstone 3
Mercury-Redstone 4

Vostok 1 (First manned space mission)
Vostok 2

Ranger 1
Ranger 2

1960

Pioneer 5 First deep space probe. Launched on 11MAR60

1959

Luna 1 (First Lunar Flyby)
Luna 2 (First Lunar Impact)
Luna 3 (Lunar Flyby)

Pioneer 4 (Lunar Flyby)

1958

Vanguard 1
Explorer 1

1957

Sputnik 1 (First Earth Orbit)
Sputnik 2

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© Richard Kruse, 2006 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.