The People’s Republic of China launched Shenzhou 1, the first uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft.
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The first American satellite, Explorer 1, was launched into space.
A giant ball of fire was seen arching across the sky from Michigan to Pennsylvania.
NASA launched the Endeavour Space Shuttle on the penultimate space shuttle mission.
NASA's Columbia Space Shuttle completed mission STS-61-C when it landed at the Edwards Air Force Base.
Sputnik 2 soviet spacecraft burned up, returning through Earth's atmosphere.
