1961Success
Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7)
Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space aboard a 15-minute suborbital flight.
Technology · 6 missions
Heat Shield
1962Success
Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7)
John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth, circling the planet three times.
1968Success
Apollo 8
The first humans to leave Earth orbit and circle the Moon, capturing the iconic Earthrise photograph.
1975Success
Viking 1
The first fully successful Mars landing returns years of images and searches for life.
2018Ongoing
Parker Solar Probe
The fastest human-made object flies through the Sun’s atmosphere.
2022Success
Artemis I
The Space Launch System and Orion fly a shakedown cruise around the Moon.