Overview of the Space Age

Our roundup of all the launches and key achievements since the start of the space age. Click on a year to see detailed stats & analysis from the year's launches.

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1950s

2023

🚀 222 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 45 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First landing at the lunar south pole

See 2023 Launch Recap

2022

🚀 185 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 42 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First all-private crew to dock with a space station

☄️ First asteroid measurably deflected by a spacecraft

See 2022 Launch Recap

2021

🚀 146 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 48 Humans Launched to Space

🚁 First aircraft flight on another celestial body (Mars)

🪐 First in situ resource utilization (production of oxygen on Mars)

♻️ First reuse of a crewed space capsule

🚀 First orbital launch of an all-private crew

🌞 First spacecraft to fly through the atmosphere of a star

🔭 James Webb Space Telescope launched

See 2021 Launch Recap

2020

🚀 110 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 16 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First private company to send humans into orbit

🛰️ First private company to send humans to a space station

See 2020 Launch Recap

2019

🚀 105 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 12 Humans Launched to Space

🌘 First soft landing on the far side of the Moon

🚀 First commercial human-rated spacecraft in Earth orbit

🚀 First commercial human-rated spacecraft to dock with a space station

♻️ First reuse of payload fairing

See 2019 Launch Recap

2018

🚀 119 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 15 Humans Launched to Space

🚗 First private payload launched into heliocentric orbit (Elon's car)

🪨 First operational rover on an asteroid

🎙️ First recorded sounds from Mars

See 2018 Launch Recap

2017

🚀 88 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 15 Humans Launched to Space

♻️ First reuse of an orbital rocket

♻️ First controlled flyback and recovery of a payload fairing

♻️ First re-flight of a commercial cargo spacecraft

🪐 First spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of Saturn

🗿 First known interstellar object detected crossing the Solar System

See 2017 Launch Recap

2016

🚀 90 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 16 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First inflatable space habitat

See 2016 Launch Recap

2015

🚀 84 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 12 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First orbit of a dwarf planet

🪐 First flyby of Pluto

🥬 First food grown in space and eaten

🚀 First propulsive landing of a suborbital rocket

🚀 First propulsive landing of an orbital rocket

See 2015 Launch Recap

2014

🚀 95 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 18 Humans Launched to Space

🧊 First spacecraft to orbit a comet

🧊 First soft landing on a comet

See 2014 Launch Recap

2013

🚀 84 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 20 Humans Launched to Space

📡 First laser communication with a lunar satellite

See 2013 Launch Recap

2012

🚀 79 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 22 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First commercial spacecraft to dock with a space station

🛰️ First spacecraft to enter interstellar space

See 2012 Launch Recap

2011

🚀 90 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 34 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First orbit of Mercury

🪨 First orbit of a protoplanet in the asteroid belt

See 2011 Launch Recap

2010

🚀 73 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 35 Humans Launched to Space

⛵ First solar sail

🧪 First sample return from an asteroid

🚀 First launch, orbit, and recovery of a commercial spacecraft

See 2010 Launch Recap

2009

🚀 74 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 46 Humans Launched to Space

🔭 First space telescope to search for Earth-like exoplanets

See 2009 Launch Recap

2008

🚀 66 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 37 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First commercial liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit

💧 First discovery of lunar water in the form of ice

See 2008 Launch Recap

2007

🚀 64 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 27 Humans Launched to Space

See 2007 Launch Recap

2006

🚀 63 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 26 Humans Launched to Space

🧪 First sample return from a comet

See 2006 Launch Recap

2005

🚀 52 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 15 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First landing in the outer Solar System (Titan)

🧊 First spacecraft to impact a comet

🪨 First spacecraft to take off from an asteroid

See 2005 Launch Recap

2004

🚀 52 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First orbit of Saturn

🧪 First sample return from beyond lunar orbit

See 2004 Launch Recap

2003

🚀 60 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 13 Humans Launched to Space

See 2003 Launch Recap

2002

🚀 61 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 39 Humans Launched to Space

See 2002 Launch Recap

2001

🚀 56 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 44 Humans Launched to Space

🪨 First landing on an asteroid

📡 First laser communication in space between two objects

See 2001 Launch Recap

2000

🚀 81 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 37 Humans Launched to Space

🪨 First orbit of an asteroid

See 2000 Launch Recap

1999

🚀 70 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 22 Humans Launched to Space

See 1999 Launch Recap

1998

🚀 77 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 39 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ International Space Station launched

See 1998 Launch Recap

1997

🚀 83 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 51 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First operational rover on another planet (Mars)

See 1997 Launch Recap

1996

🚀 71 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 48 Humans Launched to Space

See 1996 Launch Recap

1995

🚀 72 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 48 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First orbit of Jupiter

🪐 First spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of Jupiter

See 1995 Launch Recap

1994

🚀 89 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 49 Humans Launched to Space

See 1994 Launch Recap

1993

🚀 79 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 47 Humans Launched to Space

See 1993 Launch Recap

1992

🚀 94 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 59 Humans Launched to Space

🪨 First confirmed observation of an exoplanet

🌞 First polar orbit around the Sun

🪐 First spacecraft to map Venus

See 1992 Launch Recap

1991

🚀 87 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 41 Humans Launched to Space

🪨 First flyby of an asteroid

See 1991 Launch Recap

1990

🚀 115 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 39 Humans Launched to Space

📸 First photograph of the whole Solar System

🔭 Hubble Telescope launched

See 1990 Launch Recap

1989

🚀 100 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 26 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First flyby of Neptune

See 1989 Launch Recap

1988

🚀 115 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 19 Humans Launched to Space

See 1988 Launch Recap

1987

🚀 108 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 8 Humans Launched to Space

See 1987 Launch Recap

1986

🚀 102 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 16 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First flyby of Uranus

🧊 First close up observations of a comet

See 1986 Launch Recap

1985

🚀 120 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 59 Humans Launched to Space

🎈 First balloon deployed on another planet (Venus)

🧊 First flyby of a comet

See 1985 Launch Recap

1984

🚀 127 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 36 Humans Launched to Space

👨‍🚀 First untethered spacewalk

See 1984 Launch Recap

1983

🚀 127 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 25 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First spacecraft to travel beyond all Solar System planets

See 1983 Launch Recap

1982

🚀 119 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 16 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First soil samples taken from Venus

🌱 First plants to flower and produce seeds in space

See 1982 Launch Recap

1981

🚀 123 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 10 Humans Launched to Space

♻️ First reusable crewed orbital spacecraft

See 1981 Launch Recap

1980

🚀 103 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 13 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First close encounter of Titan

See 1980 Launch Recap

1979

🚀 105 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 4 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First flyby of Saturn

See 1979 Launch Recap

1978

🚀 123 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 10 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First spacecraft to orbit the Sun at Lagrange 1

See 1978 Launch Recap

1977

🚀 123 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

See 1977 Launch Recap

1976

🚀 127 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

📸 First photos from the surface of Mars

🪐 First soil samples taken from Mars

See 1976 Launch Recap

1975

🚀 125 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 11 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First spacecraft to orbit Venus

📸 First photos from the surface of another planet (Venus)

See 1975 Launch Recap

1974

🚀 104 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First gravity assist

🪐 First flyby of Mercury

See 1974 Launch Recap

1973

🚀 109 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 13 Humans Launched to Space

🪐 First flyby of Jupiter

🪐 First spacecraft to travel beyond the Inner Solar System

See 1973 Launch Recap

1972

🚀 105 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First spacecraft to enter the asteroid belt

See 1972 Launch Recap

1971

🚀 118 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 12 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First crewed space station

🚙 First vehicle driven on the Moon

🪐 First spacecraft to orbit another planet (Mars)

🪐 First spacecraft to impact Mars

🪐 First soft landing on Mars

🪐 First signals received from the Martian surface

See 1971 Launch Recap

1970

🚀 113 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 5 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First robotic rover on another celestial body (the Moon)

🪐 First soft landing on another planet (Venus)

🪐 First signal received from another planet's surface (Venus)

See 1970 Launch Recap

1969

🚀 106 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 21 Humans Launched to Space

👨‍🚀 First human landing on the Moon

🌕 First human steps on the Moon

🌕 First sample return from the Moon

See 1969 Launch Recap

1968

🚀 122 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 8 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First crewed spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit

🌕 First crewed orbit around another celestial body (the Moon)

See 1968 Launch Recap

1967

🚀 129 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First polar orbit around the Moon

📸 First photos of the Lunar south pole

See 1967 Launch Recap

1966

🚀 126 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 11 Humans Launched to Space

🌕 First soft landing on the Moon

🪐 First spacecraft to impact Venus

🔗 First orbital docking between two spacecraft

🌕 First artificial satellite in Moon orbit

🌍 First picture of Earth from the Moon

See 1966 Launch Recap

1965

🚀 118 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 14 Humans Launched to Space

👨‍🚀 First spacewalk

🪐 First Mars flyby to return data

📸 First images of Mars from deep space

🛰️ First orbital rendezvous (parallel flight, no docking)

See 1965 Launch Recap

1964

🚀 92 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 3 Humans Launched to Space

See 1964 Launch Recap

1963

🚀 59 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 5 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First reusable crewed suborbital spacecraft

See 1963 Launch Recap

1962

🚀 73 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 6 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First orbital solar observatory

🌘 First impact on the far side of the Moon

📡 First active communications satellite

🪐 First Mars flyby

🪐 First planetary flyby to return data (Venus)

See 1962 Launch Recap

1961

🚀 39 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 4 Humans Launched to Space

🐵 First primate in space

👨‍🚀 First human in space

🪐 First planetary flyby (Venus)

👨‍🚀 First 24-hour human spaceflight

See 1961 Launch Recap

1960

🚀 23 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 0 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First solar probe

🐕 First return of living beings from orbit

See 1960 Launch Recap

1959

🚀 14 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 0 Humans Launched to Space

🚀 First spacecaft to escape Earth's gravity

🌞 First spacecraft in heliocentric orbit

🌦️ First weather satellite

📸 First photo of Earth from orbit

🌕 First spacecraft to impact another celestial body (the Moon)

🌘 First images of the Moon's far side

See 1959 Launch Recap

1958

🚀 8 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 0 Humans Launched to Space

🌞 First solar-powered satellite

See 1958 Launch Recap

1957

🚀 2 Successful Launches

👨‍🚀 0 Humans Launched to Space

🛰️ First man-made satellite in Earth orbit

📡 First man-made signals received from space

🐕 First animal in Earth orbit

See 1957 Launch Recap