Some of the major “firsts” in aviation and space history:
1903 – 1st successful Airplane (Wright 1903 Flyer)
1926 – 1st successful Liquid-Propellant Rocket (Goddard Rockets)
1927- 1st solo transatlantic flight (Ryan NYP “Spirit of St. Louis”)
1942 – 1st American Turbojet (Bell XP-59A Airacomet)
1947 – 1st aircraft to travel the speed of sound (Bell X-1 “Glamorous Glennis”)
1957 –1st artificial satellite (Sputnik 1)
1958 – 1st successful United States satellite (Explorer 1)
1962 – 1st interplanetary probe (Mariner 2)
1962 – 1st American in Earth orbit (Mercury “Friendship 7”)
1965 – 1st American spacewalk (Gemini IV)
1967- 1st hypersonic, high altitude aircraft (North American X-15)
1969 – 1st manned Lunar landing (Apollo 11 Command Module “Columbia”)
1976 – 1st spacecraft to operate on Mars (Viking Lander)
1976 – 1st spacecraft to leave our Solar System (Pioneer 10)
1987 – 1st Intl effort to control nuclear arms (Pershing-II & SS-20 Missiles)
1999 – 1st Nonstop Flight Around the World by Balloon (Breitling Orbiter 3 Gondola)
SOURCE: National Air and Space Museum
