Space History Photos

The history of space exploration is rich with photos from NASA that detail the history of space travel, breakthrough propulsion systems, groundbreaking astronauts and missions, and robotic exploration. Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight, from the early days of the space race through the space shuttle era, from the years of the first rockets and satellites to the test-flight era that preceded human spaceflight, and of course beyond.

Related Topics: Stargazer Photos, SpaceKids, Space Books

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An Indian-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle stands poised to launch the Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe for the Indian Space Research Organization.

On This Day in Space! Oct. 21, 2008: India Launches Its 1st Moon Mission

By Hanneke Weitering

On Oct. 21, 2008, the Indian Space Research Organization launched its first moon mission, Chandrayaan-1. See how it happened in our On This Day in Space video series!

Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who died Oct. 11, 2019, is seen on the world's first spacewalk in 1965.

Heroes of Space: Alexei Leonov

By All About Space

Today spacewalks are an almost routine part of space exploration but the very first spacewalk by Alexei Leonov, who died last week at 85, was anything but straightforward.

Alexei Leonov, who performed the world's first spacewalk in 1965 and co-led the first joint mission between the U.S. and Russia, died on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 in Moscow at age 85.

Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, Who Was First to Walk in Space, Dies at 85

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Leonov was on the short list to fly to the moon.

A still from footage of astronauts visiting Iceland to study geology, one of dozens of clips making up a National Archives Citizen Archivist Mission focused on NASA.

The National Archives Needs YOU to Watch a Ton of Vintage NASA Footage Online

By Meghan Bartels

Spoiler alert: The man who cracks into the package of space-ready, bite-size cheese sandwiches does not taste one of the sickly, orange-and-white delicacies. Nor does he brave a "strawberry cube."

Mice have a long career in spaceflight experiments, like these that NASA injected with lunar rock after Apollo 11.

Before He Was a Rocket Engineer for Nazi Germany, Von Braun Was a Student Experimenting on Mice

By Meghan Bartels

Today, Wernher von Braun is remembered as a rocket engineer who spent his career singlemindedly focused on enabling human spaceflight, first for Nazi Germany and then for the U.S.

Félicette, the first cat in space (seen here at right), will soon be immortalized as a bronze sculpture at the International Space University in Strasbourg. On the left here is one of the first photos of the artwork in progress, and at the center is a small scale model.

Hail Félicette! French Space Cat Memorial Beginning to Take Shape

By Hanneke Weitering

Fifty-six years after a cat named Félicette became the first feline to launch into space, plans to build the cosmic cat's first proper memorial are beginning to take shape.

Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad (left), Richard Gordon (center) and Alan Bean with their AstroVette Corvettes and a lunar lander in a crew portrait from 1969.

Apollo Astronauts and Fast Cars: Corvette, Scott Kelly Look Back at the AstroVette

By Elizabeth Howell

As Corvette and astronaut Scott Kelly unveil the new C8 Corvette for 2019, here's a at the Apollo-era "AstroVette" of 1969.

Journalists meet Baker, on the left, and Able, on the right, during a news conference held on June 1, 1959, after the two monkeys survived spaceflight.

Able and Baker: The First Primates to Survive Spaceflight in Photos

By Meghan Bartels

Able and Baker hit an altitude of 300 miles (480 kilometers) during their brief suborbital flight.

Failed 1970s Venus Probe Could Crash to Earth This Year

By Leonard David

The Soviet Union launched the Cosmos 482 Venus probe on March 31, 1972. But the failed Venus craft is crashing back to Earth soon.

Apollo 12 in Pictures: Photos from NASA's Pinpoint Moon Landing Mission

By Christine Lunsford

NASA's Apollo 12 mission sent three astronauts to the moon in November 1969 to make the second crewed lunar landing in history. See how that mission went in photos in our photo gallery here!

Mercury Redstone 3: Photos from Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 Spaceflight

By Christine Lunsford

international space station, space station concepts, Freedom, space history photos

Space History Photo: Artist's Conception of Space Station Freedom

By From NASA

The Freedom was intended to be a permanently inhabited orbiting base.

Space History Photo: Boilerplate Mercury Capsule

By NASA Archives

Engineers inspect a boilerplate Mercury capsule.

Space History Photo: Kathy Sullivan Dons Her Suit

By NASA Archives

Astronaut Kathy Sullivan poses for a picture with her space suit.

Space History Photo: Little Joe 5B High-Q-Abort Test

By NASA Archives

A Mercury spacecraft lands in the ocean after launched from Little Joe in a High-Q-Abort test.

Space History Photo: Cooper Egressing 'Faith 7'

By NASA Archives

After a successful mission, Cooper is assisted from his mercury capsule.

Space History Photo: Materials Science Experiments Conducted at MSFC

By NASA Archives

The first all-female crew of scientific experimenters prepare experiments that were used during the Space Shuttle/Spacelab missions.

Space History Photo: Failed Attempt to Recover Liberty Bell 7

By NASA Archives

A helicopter attempt to empty sea water from the Liberty Bell 7 fails.