Events with tag - Human Spaceflight

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.