Spacecraft: Timeline

1966   Soviet space probe Space probe

A space probe is an unmanned space mission [i] in which a spacecraft leaves Earth's orbit. ... 

 ''Venera 3'' crashes on Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet Planet

The International Astronomical Union [i] , the official scientific [i] body for astronomical [i] nomenclature [i] ... 

's surfa

1966   Surveyor program: ''Surveyor 1'' lands in Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon Moon

The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ... 

, becoming the first spacecraft to soft land on another world.

1972   The Soviet Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 unmanned spaceship Spacecraft

A spacecraft is a vehicle designed to operate beyond the surface of the Earth in outer space [i]. ... 

 Luna 20 lands on the Moon Moon

The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ... 

.

1975   The Soyuz 17 Soviet Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 spacecraft returns to Earth.

1999   NASA NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States Government [i], res ... 

 intentionally crashes the Lunar Prospector spacecraft into the Moon Moon

The Moon is Earth [i]'s only natural satellite [i]. ... 

, thus ending its mission to detect frozen water on the lunar surfa

2005   The second Chinese People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 spacecraft, ''Shenzhou 6'', is launched, carrying Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng for 5 days in orbit.