NASA’s 50th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the power of inspiration, innovation, and discovery. While looking forward to the bright promise held by the future of space exploration, an eye toward the past highlights just how far technology and understanding have come in the last five decades, amid milestone moments both poignant and profound as the first steps were taken into the vastness beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

This timeline collects the most memorable missions that brought our fellow men and women into the company of the stars, as well as research into the cutting edge of aeronautics design and practices. A selection of notable benefits realized by society follows each entry, highlighting how the pursuit of sky and stars continually revolutionizes our daily lives on Earth. The entries are listed by program start date, to frame the context of the research and development, and connect to the time scale at the date of first launch. As the last page turns from this proud and rich history to look at the missions yet to come, our imaginations are free to consider what marvelous developments these technologies may bring to our home and life.

"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people." -President John F. Kennedy, 1962