Humanity’s quest to touch the stars began nearly 70 years ago when the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, was launched into space by the Soviet Union in October 1957.

The first astronauts followed a few years later, circling the Earth and witnessing its bright beauty amid the void of the cosmos.

In 1969, astronauts from NASA’s Apollo 11 mission left boot prints on the surface of the moon.

Spaceflight missions have grown longer over time, breaking old records and setting new ones for distance and duration while pushing the boundaries of what humans can do in space.

Robotic explorers have landed on Mars, embarked on a sightseeing tour of other planets and flown through the furthest reaches of our solar system — and even dared to venture beyond.

Sputnik I, the world's first satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. It orbited the Earth every 98 minutes.
Sputnik I, the world's first artificial satellite, was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. It orbited the Earth every 98 minutes, emitting a high-pitched beep that could be heard on shortwave radio. Its launch kickstarted the "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States.
NASA
Laika the dog is pictured aboard Sputnik II in November 1957. She was the first animal to orbit the Earth. She did not survive her trip, but the mission provided valuable data that paved the way for the first human in space.
Laika the dog is pictured aboard Sputnik II in November 1957. She was the first animal to orbit the Earth. She did not survive her trip, but the mission provided valuable data that paved the way for the first human in space.
Sovfoto/Universal Images Group/Shutterstock
Cosmonaut yuri gagarin during last minute checks of vostok i control systems before launch, 1961. (Photo by: Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to fly into space. He spent 108 minutes in a tiny Vostok 1 space capsule, completing an orbit around the Earth on April 12, 1961.
Sovfoto/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Less than a month after Gagarin's trip, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space. On May 5, 1961, Shepard piloted Freedom 7, the first manned mission in the Mercury program. His suborbital flight lasted a little more than 15 minutes.
Less than a month after Gagarin's trip, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space. On May 5, 1961, Shepard piloted Freedom 7, the first manned mission in the Mercury program. His suborbital flight lasted a little more than 15 minutes.
NASA
John Glenn, entering the Friendship 7 capsule, became the first American to orbit the Earth. He circled the Earth three times on February 20, 1962. Glenn also set a record as the oldest astronaut in space when, at the age of 77, he went on a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1996.
John Glenn, entering the Friendship 7 capsule, became the first American to orbit the Earth. He circled the Earth three times on February 20, 1962. Glenn also set a record as the oldest astronaut in space when, at the age of 77, he went on a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1996.
NASA
Valentina Tereshkova, seen here with Yuri Gagarin, is the first woman to fly into space. She piloted the Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963.
Valentina Tereshkova, seen here with Yuri Gagarin, was the first woman to fly into space. She piloted the Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963.
AFP/Getty Images
Astronaut Edward H. White II floats outside the Gemini IV spacecraft on June 3, 1965. It was the first American spacewalk. Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the first spacewalk in March of that year.
Astronaut Edward H. White II floats outside the Gemini IV spacecraft on June 3, 1965. It was the first American spacewalk. Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the first spacewalk in March of that year.
NASA
NASA's Mariner 4 probe flew 6,118 miles above the Martian surface in July 1965, capturing 22 images, the first of the planet.
NASA's Mariner 4 probe flew 6,118 miles above the Martian surface in July 1965, capturing 22 images, the first of the planet.
NASA
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov was the first human to die during a space mission. He died when the Soyuz 1 spacecraft crashed during its return to Earth on April 23, 1967. It was his second spaceflight.
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov was the first human to die during a space mission. He died when the Soyuz 1 spacecraft crashed during its return to Earth on April 23, 1967. It was his second spaceflight.
Sovfoto/Universal Images Group/Shutterstock
Earth is seen peeking out from beyond the lunar surface in this photo taken by NASA astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968. Anders was aboard Apollo 8, the first crewed spacecraft that circumnavigated the moon. The photo, nicknamed "Earthrise," has become one of NASA's most iconic photos.
Earth is seen peeking out from beyond the lunar surface in this photo taken by NASA astronaut William Anders on December 24, 1968. Anders was aboard Apollo 8, the first crewed spacecraft that circumnavigated the moon. The photo, nicknamed "Earthrise," has become one of NASA's most iconic photos.
William Anders/NASA
On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission put the first humans on the moon. Neil Armstrong famously commemorated his first steps on the moon by saying, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission put the first humans on the moon. Neil Armstrong famously commemorated his first steps on the moon by saying, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
NASA
NASA astronaut Fred Haise is about to be hoisted up by a helicopter after the crew from the Apollo 13 mission returned to Earth in April 1970. Haise and two other astronauts, Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert, were meant to land on the moon, but the mission had to be aborted after an oxygen tank exploded on their spacecraft. Lovell famously delivered the bad news to mission control: "Houston, we've had a problem." The world followed the crew's plight as they figured out a solution to get home safely.
NASA astronaut Fred Haise is about to be hoisted up by a helicopter after the crew from the Apollo 13 mission returned to Earth in April 1970. Haise and two other astronauts, Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert, were meant to land on the moon, but the mission had to be aborted after an oxygen tank exploded on their spacecraft. Lovell famously delivered the bad news to mission control: "Houston, we've had a problem." The world followed the crew's plight as they figured out a solution to get home safely.
NASA/Getty Images
Skylab, the United States' first space station, orbited Earth from 1973 to 1979. The Soviet program had launched their first space station, Salyut, in 1971, and it stayed in space for 15 years.
Skylab, the United States' first space station, orbited Earth from 1973 to 1979. The Soviet program had launched their first space station, Salyut, in 1971, and it stayed in space for 15 years.
NASA
On July 15, 1975, Cold War adversaries temporarily broke the thaw when the United States and the Soviet Union embarked on their first joint space mission. Russia's Soyuz craft launched seven hours before the US Apollo craft, and the two vehicles linked up 52 hours after Soyuz lifted off. Here, astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton and cosmonaut Alexei Leonov are seen together in the Soyuz Orbital Module.
On July 15, 1975, Cold War adversaries temporarily broke the thaw when the United States and the Soviet Union embarked on their first joint space mission. Russia's Soyuz craft launched seven hours before the US Apollo craft, and the two vehicles linked up 52 hours after Soyuz lifted off. Here, astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton and cosmonaut Alexei Leonov are seen together in the Soyuz Orbital Module.
NASA
Space probe Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, launched in 1977 and are the only spacecraft to operate beyond the heliosphere, the sun’s bubble of magnetic fields and particles that extends well beyond the orbit of Pluto. This montage of images of the Saturnian system was prepared from an assemblage of images taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft during its Saturn encounter in November 1980. Pictured with ringed Saturn here are a few of its moons: Dione (forefront), Tethys and Mimas (lower right), Enceladus and Rhea (upper left) and Titan (upper right).
Space probe Voyager 1 and its twin, Voyager 2, launched in 1977 and are the only spacecraft to operate beyond the heliosphere, the sun’s bubble of magnetic fields and particles that extends well beyond the orbit of Pluto. This montage of images of the Saturnian system was prepared from an assemblage of images taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft during its Saturn encounter in November 1980. Pictured with ringed Saturn here are a few of its moons: Dione (forefront), Tethys and Mimas (lower right), Enceladus and Rhea (upper left) and Titan (upper right).
NASA
Cuban Gen. Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez is photographed in a simulator at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in September 1980. That month, he became the first Latin American, the first person of African descent and the first Cuban to fly in space when he flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz 38.
Cuban Gen. Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez is photographed in a simulator at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in September 1980. That month, he became the first Latin American, the first person of African descent and the first Cuban to fly in space when he flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz 38.
Sovfoto/Universal Images Group/Shutterstock
The space shuttle Columbia launches in April 1981. It would be the first orbital flight of NASA's space shuttle program.
The space shuttle Columbia launches in April 1981. It would be the first orbital flight of NASA's space shuttle program.
NASA
Sally Ride became the first American woman to go into space when she was part of a crew aboard the space shuttle Challenger in June 1983.
Sally Ride became the first American woman to go into space when she was part of a crew aboard the space shuttle Challenger in June 1983.
NASA
Guion "Guy" Bluford was the first African-American to go into space. He was a mission specialist on the space shuttle Challenger in 1983.
Guion "Guy" Bluford was the first African American to go into space. He was a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Challenger launch in August 1983.
NASA
In February 1984, astronaut Bruce McCandless became the first astronaut to float in space untethered, thanks to a jetpack-like device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit. The units are no longer used, but astronauts now wear a similar backpack device in case of emergency.
In February 1984, Bruce McCandless became the first astronaut to float in space untethered, thanks to a jetpack-like device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit. The units are no longer used, but astronauts now wear a similar backpack device in case of emergency.
NASA
Christa McAuliffe, third from left, takes part in zero-gravity training at Houston's Johnson Space Center in January 1986. McAuliffe was the first educator selected for a new Teacher in Space Project, and later that month she joined six astronauts for a mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger. That mission ended in tragedy when <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2026%2F01%2F28%2Fscience%2Fchallenger-center-40th-anniversary">the Challenger exploded</a> 73 seconds after launching on January 28, 1986.
Christa McAuliffe, third from left, takes part in zero-gravity training at Houston's Johnson Space Center in January 1986. McAuliffe was the first educator selected for a new Teacher in Space Project, and later that month she joined six astronauts for a mission aboard the space shuttle Challenger. That mission ended in tragedy when the Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launching on January 28, 1986.
Keith Meyers/New York Times/Redux
Jan Davis and Mark Lee wave to photographers as they head to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in September 1992. Davis and Lee were the first married couple to go into space together when they were aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.
Jan Davis and Mark Lee wave to photographers as they head to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in September 1992. Davis and Lee were the first married couple to go into space together when they were aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.
Peter Cosgrove/AP
The core of the spiral galaxy M100 is seen in this image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in December 1993. The Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the space shuttle Discovery in 1990, forever changing the way we see the universe. The telescope’s ethereal, dreamy and almost fantasy-like views of space vistas <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2020%2F04%2F24%2Fworld%2Fhubble-space-telescope-30th-anniversary-legacy-scn">have inspired people for decades</a> and led to some of the most important astronomical discoveries.
The core of the spiral galaxy M100 is seen in this image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in December 1993. The Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the space shuttle Discovery in 1990, forever changing the way we see the universe. The telescope’s ethereal, dreamy and almost fantasy-like views of space vistas have inspired people for decades and led to some of the most important astronomical discoveries.
NASA/ESA
After six months of travel, NASA's Mars Pathfinder landed on the red planet in July 1997. Its rover then rolled across the surface for nearly three months, taking photographs and conducting rock-composition tests.
After six months of travel, NASA's Mars Pathfinder landed on the red planet in July 1997. Its rover then rolled across the surface for nearly three months, taking photographs and conducting rock-composition tests.
NASA/JPL
The International Space Station, built in collaboration with 16 countries, accepted its first astronauts in November 2000. A Russian Soyuz rocket docked to the ISS carrying Expedition 1, which was made up of NASA astronaut William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev.
The International Space Station, built in collaboration with 16 countries, accepted its first astronauts in November 2000. A Russian Soyuz rocket docked to the ISS carrying Expedition 1, which was made up of NASA astronaut William Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev.
NASA
The private company SpaceX sent an unmanned capsule with supplies to the International Space Station in October 2012. It was the first commercial space mission.
The private company SpaceX sent an unmanned capsule with supplies to the International Space Station in October 2012. It was the first commercial space mission.
Bruce Weaver/AFP/Getty Images
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson returns to Earth from Expedition 52 in September 2017. Whitson has spent more days in space, cumulatively, than any American astronaut: 695 days, before her retirement in 2018.
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson returns to Earth from Expedition 52 in September 2017. Whitson has spent more days in space, cumulatively, than any American astronaut: 695 days, before her retirement in 2018.
Bill Ingalls/NASA
China's Chang’e-4 mission was the first mission to land a robotic spacecraft on the far side of the moon in January 2019.
China's Chang’e-4 mission was the first mission to land a robotic spacecraft on the far side of the moon in January 2019.
CSN/Handout/Reuters
NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir work on repairs to the International Space Station during the first all-female spacewalk in October 2019.
NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir work on repairs to the International Space Station during the first all-female spacewalk in October 2019.
NASA
A SpaceX spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts soared into outer space in May 2020 — marking the first time humans have traveled into Earth’s orbit from US soil in nearly a decade. The launch also marked the first time in history that a commercial aerospace company carried humans into Earth’s orbit.
A SpaceX spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts soared into outer space in May 2020 — marking the first time humans have traveled into Earth’s orbit from US soil in nearly a decade. The launch also marked the first time in history that a commercial aerospace company carried humans into Earth’s orbit.
Charlie Riedel/AP
This landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA's new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth.
This landscape of "mountains" and "valleys" speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. It was captured in infrared light by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, revealing — for the first time — previously invisible areas of star birth. After releasing its first high-resolution images in July 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope continues to share new images that provide unprecedented views of the universe.
NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI
A view of Dimorphos as the DART spacecraft hurtled towards it on Monday, September 26.
The asteroid Dimorphos is seen as a NASA spacecraft hurtled toward it in September 2022. NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test was the first time that humanity sent a spacecraft to measurably change the orbit of a celestial body. The mission was also the world’s first full-scale demonstration of deflection technology that could protect the planet.
NASA
In February 2024, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander became the first US spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years.
In February 2024, Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lunar lander became the first US spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years.
Intuitive Machines
Jared Isaacman, a member of the four-person crew of civilians on board SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, made history as the first non-government astronaut to conduct a spacewalk in September 2024.
Jared Isaacman, a member of the four-person crew of civilians on board SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, made history as the first non-government astronaut to conduct a spacewalk in September 2024.
SpaceX/Polaris Program