Space History

On This Day in Space: January 31, 1958 Explore 1 Launched

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023

Explorer 1 was the first successful American satellite, launched on January 31, 1958, as part of the United States’ response to the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957. The launch of Explorer 1 marked the beginning of the American space program and the Space Race between… Read More »On This Day in Space: January 31, 1958 Explore 1 Launched

On this Day in Space: January 24, 1986 Voyager 2 Arrives at Uranus

January 24, 2023January 29, 2023

On January 24, 1986, Voyager 2 became the first spacecraft to fly by Uranus, providing us with our first close-up look at this distant, icy world. Uranus is an unusual planet, as it is the only gas giant that rotates almost completely on its side. This strange orientation is thought… Read More »On this Day in Space: January 24, 1986 Voyager 2 Arrives at Uranus