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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Image of the Telstar 1 satellite. Telstar was launched by NASA on July 10, 1962, from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and was the first privately sponsored space-faring mission. Two days later, it relayed the world's first transatlantic television signal, from Andover Earth Station, Maine, to the Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center, Brittany, France.

On This Day in Space! July 10, 1962: 1st private space mission launches to orbit

By Hanneke Weitering

On July 10, 1962, the communications satellite Telstar 1 launched on the first privately sponsored space-faring mission. See how it happened in our On This Day in Space video series!

The crewmembers of the Apollo 13 mission, step aboard the USS Iwo Jima recovery ship after successfully surviving their journey around the moon and splashing down in the Pacific ocean.

Apollo 13 at 50: How NASA turned near-disaster at the moon into a 'successful failure' in space

By Chelsea Gohd

Fifty years ago today (April 11), three astronauts launched to space, poised to be the next humans to walk on the moon. But things didn't exactly go according to plan.

The National Air and Space Museum, working with the Smithsonian Transcription Center, is seeking the public's help to expand access to the extensive, handwritten astronaut training notes by Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly into space.

Smithsonian seeks public's help with Sally Ride's astronaut training notes

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Do you have the "Right Stuff" like Ride?

OneWeb has dedicated its third broadband satellite launch to the memory of the world's first spacewalker, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. The launch comes 55 years after Leonov's spacewalk.

OneWeb dedicates satellite launch to first spacewalker Alexei Leonov

By Robert Z. Pearlman

A company launching a constellation of broadband satellites is paying tribute to the first "human satellite" 55 years after he walked in space.

The first group of Manned Orbiting Laboratory astronauts poses in front of a model of the Titan III-M launch vehicle. Al Crews is at center.

Lost space dreams: How Al Crews missed out on becoming an astronaut — twice

By Roger Guillemette

Crews was in line to fly on two military spacecraft that never made it to orbit.

NASA released an updated version of the famous "Pale Blue Dot" image of Earth taken by Voyager to celebrate the photograph's 30th anniversary.

NASA's iconic 'Pale Blue Dot' photo of Earth from space just got a 21st-century makeover

By Meghan Bartels

On Feb. 14, 1990, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft captured one of the most iconic photographs of the space age; to commemorate the moment's 30th anniversary, NASA has digitally dusted off the image.

A new memorial for Félicette, the first and only cat to go to space, has arrived at its permanent home at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.

Félicette has landed! Memorial for first cat in space unveiled in France.

By Hanneke Weitering

A new memorial for Félicette, the first and only cat to go to space, has arrived at its permanent home at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.

Apollo 12 moonwalkers Charles "Pete" Conrad (pictured) and Alan Bean retrieved parts from the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, which was in walking distance of their lunar module, Intrepid.

50 Years On, Where Are the Surveyor 3 Moon Probe Parts Retrieved by Apollo 12?

By Robert Z. Pearlman

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 magazine

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!