Latest about on this day in space
On. Oct. 5, 1962, the European Southern Observatory was born! Here's why the network of telescopes atop Chile's Atacama Desert matter.
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the satellite that started the Space Race. Here's why it mattered.
On Oct. 3, 1942, Nazi Germany conducted the first successful test launch of its V-2 rocket, a weapon of war that helped set the stage for the space age.
On Oct. 2, 2015, the United Launch Alliance launched its 100th rocket! Here's why one company's rocket milestone mattered.
On Oct. 1, 1958, NASA was born! The space agency officially opened for business on this day. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 30, 2016, the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft purposely crashed into a comet. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 29, 1977, the Soviet Union launched its Salyut 6 space station into orbit. Here's why the new home in space mattered.
On Sept. 28, 1962, Canada launched its first satellite, Alouette 1, even before there was a Canadian Space Agency. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 27, 1997, NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission beamed its very last data transmission back to Earth. Here's why it mattered.
On Sept. 26, 1983, a Russian Soyuz rocket exploded on the launchpad, triggering the first ever launch abort escape for a human crew. Here's why it mattered.