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History · Grades 4–5

Space Exploration Timeline Worksheet

A timeline of space exploration, from the first satellite to the Moon landings and beyond. Kids place each event on the timeline by its date. Every date comes from NASA. The answer key is on its own page. Switch to version B or C for a new set, or open it in the builder to change anything.

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Version

Version A · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version A

History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space Exploration

Ten real moments, 1957 to 2021. Write each event’s letter in the box beside its date.

NameDate
Earthrise, photographed by the Apollo 8 crew from lunar orbit, Dec. 24, 1968.NASA · AS08-14-2383
Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon, July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong took the picture.NASA · AS11-40-5903
Hubble in orbit, seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009, 19 years after launch.NASA · S125-E-012033

Timeline

  1. 1957Oct. 4
  2. 1958Jan. 31
  3. 1961Apr. 12
  4. 1962Feb. 20
  5. 1968Dec. 24
  6. 1969July 20
  7. 1981Apr. 12
  8. 1990Apr. 24
  9. 2000Nov. 2
  10. 2021Dec. 25

Events

  1. AApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  2. BColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
  3. CThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  4. DThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.
  5. EThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  6. FExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  7. GJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  8. HSpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  9. IThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
  10. JYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space ExplorationANSWER KEY

The completed timeline, oldest to newest.

Timeline

  1. Oct. 4, 1957EThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  2. Jan. 31, 1958FExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  3. Apr. 12, 1961JYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
  4. Feb. 20, 1962GJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  5. Dec. 24, 1968IThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
  6. July 20, 1969AApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  7. Apr. 12, 1981BColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
  8. Apr. 24, 1990HSpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  9. Nov. 2, 2000CThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  10. Dec. 25, 2021DThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.

Talk about it: Sputnik (1957) to Apollo 11 (1969) took less than 12 years. How many years passed between the first satellite and the Webb telescope? (64 years)

Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

Version B · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version B

History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space Exploration

Ten real moments, 1957 to 2021. Write each event’s letter in the box beside its date.

NameDate
Earthrise, photographed by the Apollo 8 crew from lunar orbit, Dec. 24, 1968.NASA · AS08-14-2383
Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon, July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong took the picture.NASA · AS11-40-5903
Hubble in orbit, seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009, 19 years after launch.NASA · S125-E-012033

Timeline

  1. 1957Oct. 4
  2. 1958Jan. 31
  3. 1961Apr. 12
  4. 1962Feb. 20
  5. 1968Dec. 24
  6. 1969July 20
  7. 1981Apr. 12
  8. 1990Apr. 24
  9. 2000Nov. 2
  10. 2021Dec. 25

Events

  1. AThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.
  2. BColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
  3. CSpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  4. DJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  5. EExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  6. FThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  7. GApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  8. HYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
  9. IThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  10. JThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space ExplorationANSWER KEY

The completed timeline, oldest to newest.

Timeline

  1. Oct. 4, 1957IThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  2. Jan. 31, 1958EExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  3. Apr. 12, 1961HYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
  4. Feb. 20, 1962DJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  5. Dec. 24, 1968JThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
  6. July 20, 1969GApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  7. Apr. 12, 1981BColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
  8. Apr. 24, 1990CSpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  9. Nov. 2, 2000FThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  10. Dec. 25, 2021AThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.

Talk about it: Sputnik (1957) to Apollo 11 (1969) took less than 12 years. How many years passed between the first satellite and the Webb telescope? (64 years)

Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

Version C · 1 page + answer key · prints on US Letter or A4Customize version C

History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space Exploration

Ten real moments, 1957 to 2021. Write each event’s letter in the box beside its date.

NameDate
Earthrise, photographed by the Apollo 8 crew from lunar orbit, Dec. 24, 1968.NASA · AS08-14-2383
Buzz Aldrin walks on the Moon, July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong took the picture.NASA · AS11-40-5903
Hubble in orbit, seen from Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009, 19 years after launch.NASA · S125-E-012033

Timeline

  1. 1957Oct. 4
  2. 1958Jan. 31
  3. 1961Apr. 12
  4. 1962Feb. 20
  5. 1968Dec. 24
  6. 1969July 20
  7. 1981Apr. 12
  8. 1990Apr. 24
  9. 2000Nov. 2
  10. 2021Dec. 25

Events

  1. ASpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  2. BApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  3. CJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  4. DThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  5. EYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
  6. FExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  7. GThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  8. HThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
  9. IThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.
  10. JColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn
History · SpaceAges 9–13 · Grades 4–7

Timeline: Space ExplorationANSWER KEY

The completed timeline, oldest to newest.

Timeline

  1. Oct. 4, 1957DThe Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
  2. Jan. 31, 1958FExplorer 1 becomes the first United States satellite to orbit Earth.
  3. Apr. 12, 1961EYuri Gagarin becomes the first human to fly in space.
  4. Feb. 20, 1962CJohn Glenn, in Friendship 7, becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
  5. Dec. 24, 1968HThe Apollo 8 crew orbits the Moon and photographs “Earthrise.”
  6. July 20, 1969BApollo 11 lands. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon.
  7. Apr. 12, 1981JColumbia launches on STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission.
  8. Apr. 24, 1990ASpace Shuttle Discovery launches to put the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit.
  9. Nov. 2, 2000GThe first crew, Expedition 1, arrives to live on the International Space Station.
  10. Dec. 25, 2021IThe James Webb Space Telescope launches on an Ariane 5 rocket.

Talk about it: Sputnik (1957) to Apollo 11 (1969) took less than 12 years. How many years passed between the first satellite and the Webb telescope? (64 years)

Photos and dates: NASA. Dates are as NASA records them.More free worksheets: handeware.com/learn

How to use it

  1. Read all the events first.
  2. Place the ones you know, then work out the rest.
  3. Check with the answer key.
  4. Talk about which events happened in the same decade.

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