Events with tag - Exploration

June 1, 1000

Leif Erikson Discovers North America

Viking explorer Leif Erikson becomes the first European to reach North America, establishing settlements in present-day Newfoundland around 1000 CE. His journey predated Christopher Columbus's voyage by nearly 500 years and led to the first documented European-Native American contact.

October 12, 1492

Columbus Discovers America

Christopher Columbus's historic voyage in 1492 led to the first sustained European contact with the Americas, when he landed in the Bahamas on October 12 after sailing across the Atlantic with three ships provided by the Spanish Crown.

June 24, 1497

John Cabot Discovers North America

Italian-born explorer John Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to reach mainland North America in 1497, sailing under English sponsorship. His landing at Newfoundland established England's first territorial claims in the New World and laid the foundation for British colonial expansion.

April 2, 1513

Discovery of Florida

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida on April 2, 1513, marking the first documented European contact with the region. He named it 'La Florida' due to its flowering vegetation and the Easter season.

September 25, 1513

Discovery of the Pacific Ocean

Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean, which he named the 'South Sea', after a grueling 25-day expedition across the Isthmus of Panama with 190 Spanish soldiers and 1,000 indigenous porters.

January 17, 1524

Verrazzano's Atlantic Coast Exploration

Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano conducted the first European exploration of the Atlantic coast from Florida to New Brunswick under French commission, covering over 5,000 nautical miles and making significant discoveries including New York Harbor.

September 7, 1535

Discovery of St. Lawrence River

French explorer Jacques Cartier becomes the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, establishing a crucial waterway that would shape North American colonial development and connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

February 23, 1540

Coronado's Expedition to the American Southwest

In 1540, Spanish conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado led a massive expedition of over 1,000 people through the American Southwest, searching for the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. While the legendary cities were never found, the two-year journey resulted in the first detailed European documentation of the region's geography, indigenous peoples, and natural resources.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of Mississippi River

Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto became the first European to discover and document the Mississippi River, which he named 'Río del Espíritu Santo' (River of the Holy Spirit), marking a pivotal moment in North American exploration history.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of the Mississippi River

Hernando de Soto became the first European to officially document the discovery of the Mississippi River, leading to a series of explorations that established crucial trade routes and shaped North American development.

September 8, 1565

Founding of St. Augustine

Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established St. Augustine, Florida, marking the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States. The settlement was founded on September 8, 1565, predating Jamestown by 42 years.

May 14, 1602

Discovery of Cape Cod

English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold discovers Cape Cod during his expedition aboard the Concord, naming the peninsula after the abundant cod fish found in its waters. This historic voyage established one of the earliest English connections to what would later become the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

July 3, 1608

Founding of Quebec City

Samuel de Champlain establishes Quebec City at a strategic location along the St. Lawrence River, marking the beginning of permanent French colonization in North America. The settlement, built with three main structures, became the foundation of New France.

September 3, 1609

Hudson River Discovery

Henry Hudson, an English explorer commissioned by the Dutch East India Company, conducted a historic 23-day exploration of the Hudson River in 1609, becoming the first European to extensively navigate and document this major waterway. His journey laid the foundation for Dutch colonization and the establishment of New York.

May 17, 1673

Marquette and Joliet Mississippi River Expedition

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet led a historic expedition along the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to systematically explore and document the upper Mississippi. Starting from St. Ignace Mission on May 17, 1673, they traveled over 2,500 miles through present-day Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas.

February 1, 1682

La Salle's Mississippi River Expedition

In February 1682, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, becoming the first European to travel from its upper reaches to the Gulf of Mexico. This journey established French claims to the vast Louisiana Territory and transformed North American colonial development.

April 9, 1682

La Salle Claims Mississippi River

French explorer René-Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, culminating in claiming the entire river basin for France on April 9, 1682. This bold declaration established French control over vast territory later known as Louisiana.

April 1, 1699

First European Settlement on Mississippi River

In 1699, Fort de la Boulaye became the first permanent European settlement along the Mississippi River, following Robert de La Salle's historic 1682 expedition that claimed the territory for France. This establishment marked a crucial turning point in North American colonial history.

May 14, 1804

Lewis and Clark Expedition Launches

The Lewis and Clark Expedition embarked on their historic journey from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri, launching a three-year exploration of the American West that would revolutionize the mapping and understanding of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

August 9, 1805

Pike's Mississippi River Expedition

Lieutenant Zebulon Pike led a groundbreaking 9-month expedition along the Upper Mississippi River, covering 2,000 miles from St. Louis to northern Minnesota. The journey resulted in crucial mapping of territories, establishment of diplomatic relations with Native tribes, and significant scientific discoveries.

August 31, 1906

Northwest Passage Conquered

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen completed the first successful navigation of the Northwest Passage, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Canadian Arctic. The three-year journey aboard the Gjøa marked a pivotal moment in maritime history.

October 4, 1957

Space Race Begins

The Space Race began during the Cold War, marked by the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. This event prompted President Eisenhower to establish NASA and implement crucial educational and technological initiatives to advance American space capabilities.

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.

January 31, 1958

Explorer 1 Launch

The historic launch of Explorer 1, America's first successful satellite, marked the nation's entry into the Space Age and led to the groundbreaking discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts.

July 29, 1958

NASA Establishment

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, establishing NASA as a civilian space agency in response to the Space Race with the Soviet Union. The agency officially began operations on October 1, 1958.

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.

January 1, 1961

NASA Apollo Program Launch

The Apollo program began in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy declared America's intention to land humans on the Moon before the decade's end. This ambitious $28 billion initiative involved over 400,000 people and led to numerous technological breakthroughs.

April 12, 1961

First Human in Space

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space, completing a 108-minute orbital flight aboard Vostok 1 spacecraft and marking a pivotal moment in human spaceflight history.

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

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.

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.

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.

July 20, 1969

Apollo 11 Moon Landing

On July 20, 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission achieved the first human landing on the Moon, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on lunar surface while Michael Collins orbited above.

January 5, 1972

NASA Space Shuttle Program Approved

President Richard Nixon officially authorized NASA's Space Shuttle program, marking the beginning of reusable spacecraft era with a $5.5 billion development plan aimed at revolutionizing space transportation.

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.

May 14, 1973

Launch of Skylab

NASA launched Skylab, America's first space station, using a modified Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center. The 169,950-pound orbital workshop marked the beginning of permanent human presence in space.

August 20, 1975

Viking 1 Launch

NASA launched Viking 1, its first successful Mars landing mission, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The spacecraft consisted of an orbiter and lander, marking the beginning of a revolutionary Mars exploration mission that would provide groundbreaking scientific discoveries about the Red Planet.

September 5, 1977

Launch of Voyager 1

NASA launched Voyager 1 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida, beginning an unprecedented journey of space exploration that would later become the farthest human-made object from Earth.

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.

November 20, 1998

ISS Construction Begins

The International Space Station's construction officially began with the launch of its first module, Zarya, from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome. This historic event marked the start of humanity's largest international cooperative space project.

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.

September 28, 2008

SpaceX Falcon 1 First Orbital Launch

SpaceX made history when its Falcon 1 became the first privately developed liquid-fuel rocket to reach Earth's orbit from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, marking a revolutionary moment in commercial spaceflight.

June 4, 2010

First Falcon 9 Launch

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket completed its historic first launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, revolutionizing commercial spaceflight with innovative design and reusability concepts.

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.

December 21, 2015

SpaceX Falcon 9 First Landing

SpaceX achieved a historic milestone by successfully landing its Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster at Cape Canaveral, marking the first-ever vertical landing of an orbital-class rocket while delivering 11 Orbcomm-2 satellites to orbit.

February 6, 2018

SpaceX Tesla Roadster Launch

SpaceX made history by launching a Tesla Roadster into space aboard its Falcon Heavy rocket, featuring 'Starman' mannequin in the driver's seat. The mission demonstrated the world's most powerful operational rocket system while creating unprecedented media attention.

February 6, 2018

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch

SpaceX made history with the successful launch of Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful operational rocket, carrying Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster with 'Starman' mannequin into space orbit beyond Mars.

May 11, 2018

SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 Debut

SpaceX achieved a historic milestone with the inaugural launch of Falcon 9 Block 5, their most advanced reusable rocket. The mission successfully deployed Bangladesh's first geostationary communications satellite while demonstrating revolutionary reusability features.

July 25, 2019

SpaceX Starhopper First Flight

SpaceX achieves major milestone with first successful untethered flight of Starhopper test vehicle, reaching 20 meters height at Boca Chica facility. The prototype demonstrated crucial technologies for future Mars missions.

May 30, 2020

SpaceX Demo-2 Mission

SpaceX made history by launching the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station, carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

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.

August 30, 2020

SpaceX SAOCOM 1B Launch

SpaceX successfully launched the SAOCOM 1B Earth observation satellite from Cape Canaveral, achieving a historic double booster landing and marking the first polar orbit mission from Florida's Space Coast in decades.

April 16, 2021

NASA Selects SpaceX Starship for Moon Missions

NASA awarded SpaceX a historic $2.9 billion contract to develop Starship as the lunar landing system for the Artemis program, marking a significant shift towards commercial partnerships in space exploration.

May 5, 2021

SpaceX Starship SN15 Landing

SpaceX's Starship SN15 prototype successfully completed its high-altitude test flight, reaching 10 kilometers before executing a precise landing at the Boca Chica facility in Texas. This historic achievement marked the first complete test flight without destruction of a Starship prototype.

April 1, 2023

SpaceX Dear Moon Mission

SpaceX plans historic lunar mission 'Dear Moon' to send eight civilian passengers and crew on a six-day journey around the Moon using their revolutionary Starship spacecraft.

April 17, 2023

SpaceX Starship First Flight

SpaceX's Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, prepares for its groundbreaking first orbital test flight with 33 Raptor engines and unprecedented payload capacity of 220,000 pounds to low Earth orbit.