<p>Space exploration, one of the greatest technological achievements in human history, includes the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger, and people like Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.</p>


Space Exploration

Space exploration remains one of the greatest technological advances in human history. Learn about the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger, Neil Armstrong and more.

Space Exploration: Timeline and Technologies | HISTORY

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Legacy Unpublished

<p>From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Amanirenas, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and countless others have played a vital role in history.</p>


Women’s History

<p>Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latin and Hispanic communities. The event, which spans from September 15 to October 15, commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large.</p>


Hispanic History

Videos

<p><a href="http://history.com/">HISTORY.com</a> works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including <a href="https://www.history.com/author/amanda-onion">Amanda Onion</a>, <a href="https://www.history.com/author/missy-sullivan">Missy Sullivan</a>, <a href="https://www.history.com/author/matt-mullen">Matt Mullen</a> and Christian Zapata.</p>


History.com Editors

2006

<p>Discover what happened on September 12 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


September 12

<p>Discover what happened on January 12 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


January 12

1974 was a year of firsts. Richard Nixon, enmeshed in the Watergate scandal, became the first American president to resign from office. Hank Aaron became the first baseball player to top Babe Ruth’s career home run record. Scientists in Ethiopia found the first skeleton of a 3-million-year-old human ancestor that walked upright, while archaeologists in China unearthed an army of more than 8,000 lifesize terracotta warriors. In America, disco fever raged, and Archie Bunker broke TV sitcom ground with his blunt and bigoted take on hot-button social issues. 

1974

1990

<p>Discover what happened on August 24 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


August 24

2000

<p>Discover what happened on February 14 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


February 14

After a devastating Windsor Castle fire and assorted family crises, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II called 1992 her “annus horribilis,” or horrible year. The police beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles sparked one of the worst riots in U.S. history, while exploding sewers in Mexico killed hundreds. On the brighter side, South Africa ended apartheid, the U.S. and Russia declared the Cold War over, Mae Jemison became the first Black woman in space and a big purple dinosaur named Barney hit TV, singing about love, kindness and cleaning up.

1992

The decade-long manhunt for 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden ended in 2011 with his killing by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan. Japan faced disaster with the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. Anti-government demonstrations spread through the Middle East in the Arab Spring, while the Occupy Wall Street movement protested America’s economic inequality. “Game of Thrones” premiered on TV, R-rated novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” published, becoming the decade’s bestselling book, and England’s Prince William wed Kate Middleton, watched by millions.

2011

<p>Discover what happened on June 29 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


June 29

1995

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<div class="p-rich_text_section">African Americans have played a central role in shaping U.S. history. From slavery and its abolition to the Great Migration, the civil rights movement and military, scientific, cultural and political achievements, explore key moments, milestones and figures in Black History.</div>
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Black History

2004

1986 was a year of tragedy, with the explosion of the U.S. space shuttle Challenger, killing all seven crew members, and the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, killing two instantly and many thousands over time. But it also had brighter moments: Hands Across America united 5 million people from coast to coast, Oprah Winfrey debuted her iconic talk show, Halley’s Comet made a triumphant return after 76 years and the Voyager completed the first around-the-world flight without refueling.

1986

<p>Discover what happened on July 21 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


July 21

<p>Discover what happened on April 25 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


April 25

<p>Discover what happened on November 16 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


November 16

<p>Discover what happened on January 3 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


January 3

<p>Discover what happened on June 21 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


June 21

<p>Discover what happened on February 9 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


February 9

<p>Discover what happened on November 2 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.</p>


Space Exploration ‑ This Day In History

This Day in History Video: What Happened on June 29

This Day in History Video: What Happened on April 25

Franklin Chang‑Diaz becomes the first Hispanic American to fly in space

The Arecibo Message, an attempt to communicate with extraterrestrials, is sent into space

First privately owned spacecraft, SS1, travels beyond the earth’s atmosphere

Mae Jemison becomes first Black woman in space

Bernard Harris becomes the first Black man to walk in space

Pluto is demoted

“Pale Blue Dot” photo of Earth is taken

The Mars Exploration Rover “Spirit” safely lands on the Red Planet

First residential crew arrives aboard the International Space Station

NASA’s final space shuttle mission comes to an end