Events with tag - Astronaut

October 4, 1957

The Space Race

The Space Race was a period of competition between the United States and Soviet Union from 1957 to 1969, marked by achievements in space exploration and technological advancement. It began with the launch of Sputnik 1 and culminated in the Moon landing.

October 7, 1958

Project Mercury Launch

NASA initiates Project Mercury, America's first human spaceflight program, marking the beginning of the U.S. space program and its response to the Soviet Space Race following Sputnik 1's launch.

May 5, 1961

First American in Space

Alan Shepard made history as the first American astronaut to travel into space aboard Freedom 7 spacecraft, reaching an altitude of 116 miles during a 15-minute suborbital flight that demonstrated NASA's capabilities in the Space Race.

February 20, 1962

Mercury-Atlas 6: First American Orbital Flight

On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth aboard Friendship 7 spacecraft during the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. The historic flight lasted 4 hours and 55 minutes, completing three orbits around Earth at an altitude of 162 miles.

February 20, 1962

John Glenn's Historic Orbital Flight

On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth aboard Friendship 7 spacecraft, completing three orbits during a 4-hour and 55-minute mission that marked a crucial milestone in the Space Race.

April 8, 1964

NASA Project Gemini Launch

NASA launched Project Gemini as its second human spaceflight program, conducting 12 missions between 1964-1966. The program served as a crucial bridge between Mercury and Apollo missions, developing essential capabilities for lunar exploration.

December 7, 1972

Apollo 17: NASA's Final Moon Landing

Apollo 17, launched on December 7, 1972, was NASA's final lunar mission of the Apollo program. Led by Commander Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, it set multiple records including the longest surface stay and most extensive moonwalks in the program's history.

January 28, 1986

Challenger Disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch from Kennedy Space Center, killing all seven crew members including the first teacher to go to space. The disaster was caused by O-ring seal failure due to cold temperatures.

February 1, 2003

Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members. The disaster was caused by damage to the shuttle's thermal protection system during launch and led to a 29-month suspension of NASA's Space Shuttle program.

July 21, 2011

Final Space Shuttle Mission

Space Shuttle Atlantis completed its final mission STS-135, marking the end of NASA's 30-year Space Shuttle Program. The mission delivered crucial supplies to the International Space Station before making its historic final landing.

May 30, 2020

SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2

Historic SpaceX mission that launched NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station, becoming the first commercial spacecraft to carry humans to orbit and marking America's return to human spaceflight from U.S. soil since 2011.