Timeline of the American Space Program Search the archives for more information on the Space Program
1930: February Professor Robert H. Goddard begins preparations to launch the largest projectile ever fired in an attempt to reach outer space. Read Article (pictured on the right) Rocket Scientist Ready To Explore Outer Space With Largest Projectile The Bee, February 21, 1930 1935: September 25 Professor Goddard's research is given the full backing of the Guggenheim Institute by Harry F. Guggenheim. Read Article Millions to Back Efforts The Times Herald, September 25, 1935 1945: February 24 A rocket consisting of a rebuilt V2 rocket and American WAC-Corporal rocket becomes the first man-made object to enter outer space. Read Article Rocket Goes 250 Miles Up The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, February 25, 1949 1945: August 10 Professor Goddard passes away at the age of 62. He had filed more than 200 patents for rocket systems during his life. Read Article Pioneer Of Jet Planes Dies Near Annapolis The Capital, August 11, 1945 1957: October 4 The Soviet Union launches Sputnik (Russian for "traveler") into orbit, firing the first shot in the "space race." Read Article (pictured on the right) Russians Launch Man-Made Satellite The Progress, October 5, 1957 1958: January 31 The U.S. launches its first satellite into orbit. "Explorer" would discover the "Van Allen radiation belts." Read Article (pictured on the right) U.S. Satellite 'Explorer" Whirling In Earth Orbit The Press-Telegram, February 1, 1958 1959: April 9 NASA announces the selection of the first seven American astronauts in the Mercury Program. The seven men selected were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Virgil (Gus) Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald Slayton. Read Article Seven Spacemen Face A Challenging Future The Sheboygan Press, April 10, 1959 1961: April 12 The Soviet Union launches cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on a 108-minute orbit around the Earth. Read Article (pictured on the right) Reds Orbit, Recover Space Man… The Lincoln Evening Journal, April 12, 1961 1961: May 5 Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space making a 15-minute suborbital flight in the Freedom 7. Read Article (pictured on the right) U.S. Man in Space Returns Safely The Oakland Tribune, May 5, 1961 1962: February 20 John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits before returning to the Earth. Read Article Glenn Returns Safe After Three Orbits The Port Arthur News, February 20, 1962 1965: March 18 Soviet Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov spends 20 minutes outside of his Voskhod 2 capsule while in orbit around the Earth. Read Article (pictured on the right) Russian Takes Space Swim The Lincoln Star, March 19, 1965 1967: January 27 During a launch pad simulation of the Apollo I mission, a fire in the command module takes the lives of astronauts Ed White, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chaffee. Read Article 3 Astronauts Die In Test The Independent, January 28, 1967 1967: January 27 The United States, Russia and the United Kingdom, along with 60 other nations, sign a treaty banning the orbiting of nuclear weapons. Read Article (pictured on the right) Space Treaty Signed By U.S., Russia, U.K. The Stars and Stripes, January 28, 1967 1969: July 20 Astronaut Neil Armstrong steps off the Eagle Lander and onto the surface of the moon. Armstrong and his crewmate Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin spend 22 hours on the moon. Read Article (pictured on the right) 'One Small Step For Man…" The Coshocton Tribune, July 21, 1969 1970: April 13 Apollo 13 is crippled by an explosion, preventing a planned moon landing. The three man crew, short on oxygen from the explosion, managed to return safely. Read Article Dramatic Fight To Save Apollo The Oakland Tribune, April 14, 1970 1972: March 2 Pioneer 10 is launched on a journey to Jupiter. The satellite traveled past Jupiter and into deep space. Read Article Pioneer 10 on record journey toward Jupiter The Valley Independent, March 3, 1972 1976: August 7 Results returned from the Viking I spacecraft show the strongest evidence yet of possible life on Mars. Read Article New Viking results increase possibility life exists on Mars The Modesto Bee, August 8, 1976 1983: June 18 Sally Ride becomes America's first woman in space when the space shuttle Challenger launches without a hitch. Read Article Challenger launch is perfect The Syracuse Herald Journal, June 18, 1983 1986: January 28 The space shuttle Challenger explodes just minutes after takeoff, killing all seven crew members, including Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first school teacher in space. Read Article (pictured on the right) Shuttle crew killed The Capital, January 28, 1986 1990: April 24 The space shuttle Discovery launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying the Hubble Space Telescope. Read Article Seven years late, Discovery carries Hubble into space The Frederick Post, April 25, 1990 1998: March 5 NASA announces that the Lunar Prospector probe discovered the presence of water at the north and south poles of the moon. Read Article NASA is certain 'frozen' water graces moon The Intelligencer, March 6, 1998 2003: February 1 The space shuttle Columbia breaks apart during its reentry, killing all seven members of the crew. Read Article (pictured on the right) Columbia Lost The Bucks County Courier Times, February 2, 2003 2004: October 4 Mike Melvill pilots SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan, to 367,442 feet, winning the Ansari X Prize. SpaceShipOne made two suborbital flights in two weeks. Read Article Rocket plane reaches space… The Gettysburg Times, October 5, 2004		Newspaper Articles (click to view readable full images) The Bee February 21, 1930 The Progress October 5, 1957 The Press-Telegram February 1, 1958 The Lincoln Evening Journal April 12, 1961 The Oakland Tribune May 5, 1961 The Lincoln Star March 19, 1965 The Stars and Stripes January 28, 1967 The Coshocton Tribune July 21, 1969 The Capital January 28, 1986 The Bucks County Courier Times February 2, 2003