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Rocket Science Timeline
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400 BC |
First record of rocket-like flight |
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200 BC
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First explosive weapons |
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100 BC
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Hero uses steam to spin a sphere |
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1054 AD
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Rockets as weapons |
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1500s
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First description of multi-stage rockets |
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1650
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Invention of the first multi-stage rocket |
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1686
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Rocket science is born |
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1806
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Rockets developed for war |
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1865
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Novelist writes prophetically of lunar landing |
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1903
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'Father of Modern Astronautics' suggests space exploration by liquid-propelled rocket |
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1926
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First flight of liquid-propelled rocket |
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1945
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Soviets initiate space programme |
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1946
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Rocket science reshuffle |
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1957
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USSR success and US disaster |
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1958
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American space launches |
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1959
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Soviet space firsts |
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1961
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Flight past Venus and first man in space |
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1962
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First American in space. Telstar communications satellite first used |
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1964
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First three-man crew in space and first fly-by of Mars |
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1965
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Orbits of earth and first space walk |
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1966
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Russians and Americans land machine on Moon |
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1967
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US and USSR tragedies. New Russian technology |
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1968
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Breakthrough by the Apollo Mission |
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1969
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First men on Moon |
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1970
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China in space and US scare |
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1971
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UK in space |
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1972
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Mission to Jupiter and last man to Moon |
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1973
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Powerful Russian technology |
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1974
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Soviets opt out |
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1975
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US and USSR work together. Venus landing |
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1976
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Mars landing |
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1977
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Solar exploration and Space Shuttle launch tests |
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1981
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First test mission for Space Shuttle |
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1986
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Space Shuttle disaster, launch of Mir Space Station and comet fly-by |
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1990
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Hubble Space Telescope launched and Venus mapped |
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1993
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Amazing find in Russia |
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1995
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Images of Jupiter |
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1997
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Mars landing and journey to Saturn |
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1998
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Lunar resting place and launch of the International Space Station |
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1999
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China enters the space travel arena |
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2000
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New rocket era |
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2001
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US-Russian co-operation continues |
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2002
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International Space Station grows. Chinese space plan. |
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2003
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Pioneer 10 fades away in space. Columbia disaster. |
Find out more
Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of third party sites
Websites
C4 – The Engines that Came in from the Cold
www.channel4.com/science/microsites/C/cosmo/index.html
Learn how rockets work, find out about the people and events behind rocket science, and read a fascinating tale of East-West co-operation.
The Rocket Man
www.the-rocketman.com
Devoted to civilian rocketry with information and articles, events, kit reviews and supplies.
Rocketry Online
www.Rocketryonline.com
Gives up-to-date information about model high-powered and amateur rocketry with discussion forums and a chat room.
Extreme Rocketry
www.extremerocketry.com
Online magazine gives news about latest launches, reviews of products and projects to make. Apply online for subscription.
The British National Space Centre
www.bnsc.gov.uk
Current information regarding Britain's development of space technology.
Space Propulsion Guide
www.aerospaceguide.net/spacepropulsion/index.html
Various Space Propulsion concepts from rocket engines and nuclear propulsion to solar sails and more.
How Rocket Engines work
www.howstuffworks.com/rocket.htm
Written in easy to understand language, providing information on the mechanics of rocket motors and other relevant technical information using photographs and drawings.
Books
100 Years of Flight: A Chronicle of Aerospace History, 1903-2003 by Frank Winter and Robert van der Linden (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2003)
Discusses the technological breakthroughs of the evolution of rocket propulsion and aerospace design over the last 100 years.
Get this book
Handbook of Model Rocketry by G Harry Stein and Bill Stein (John Wiley and Sons, 2004)
Official handbook of the US National Association of Rocketry, considered the bible of model rocketry.
Get this book
The History Of Rockets by Ron Miller (Franklin Watts, 1999)
Surveys the invention, development and different uses of rockets from Ancient Greece to outer space. Aimed at 9-12 year olds.
Get this book
It's ONLY Rocket Science – An introduction in plain English by Dr Lucy Rogers (Springer 2008)
Written by an a writer as well as an engineer, this book deals with all aspects of space flight from how the rockets get in to space and then stay there to tracking satellites for amateurs and what the future may hold.
Get this book
Rocket Propulsion Elements by George P Sutton and Oscar Biblarz (John Wiley and Sons, 2001)
Investigates different rocket types including liquid, solid, hybrid fuel and electric propulsion. This is the seventh and completely revised edition.
Get this book
Rockets and spacecraft by Robert Snedden (Hodder Wayland, 1997)
Explains the history of rockets and their uses and explores the spin-offs of space programme technology.
Get this book
Rockets, Missiles and Spacecraft of the National Air and Space Museum by Gregory P Kennedy (Prentice Hall, 1984)
A look at the exhibits in the museum traces the history of rocketry and space exploration.
Get this book
Spaceflight and Rocketry: A chronology by David Baker (Facts on File, 1996)
A day-to-day chronology of space technology and rocketry from 300 BC to 1993, with technical specifications for every major rocket, satellite and space probe.
Get this book
V-2 Rockets: Those daring machines by Paula Younkin (Prentice Hall and IBD, 1994)
Traces the history of the early rockets that were developed by the Nazis to demoralize the people of London, but later were part of the beginnings of the American space program.
Get this book
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