October 12, 1492Exploration & Discovery
Columbus Reaches the Americas
Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas, initiating sustained European contact with the Americas.
Americas
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Exploration & Discovery
6 events in this category
April 12, 1961Exploration & Discovery
Yuri Gagarin — First Human in Space
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space, completing one orbit of the Earth aboard Vostok 1.
Europe
June 16, 1963Exploration & Discovery
Valentina Tereshkova — First Woman in Space
Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space, orbiting the Earth 48 times aboard Vostok 6.
Europe
1977Exploration & Discovery
Voyager Missions Launch
NASA launched Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 to explore the outer solar system — they are now the most distant human-made objects, still transmitting from interstellar space.
Americas
January 2004Exploration & Discovery
Mars Rovers — Spirit and Opportunity
NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers landed on Mars, with Opportunity far exceeding its 90-day mission to explore the Red Planet for over 14 years.
Global
November 16, 2022Exploration & Discovery
Artemis I — Return to the Moon
NASA's Artemis I mission sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back, marking the first step in returning humans to the lunar surface.
Americas