The shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir joined, forming the largest artificial satellite to orbit the earth.
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The Soviet Space Agency Launches Vostok 3.
Europe's Planck spacecraft found evidence that our universe is 13.8 billion years old.
The first reusable spacecraft called ''Space Shuttle Columbia" broke apart when returning to Earth, and all seven astronauts on board died.
A Chinese Long March rocket launched the Belarussian government's Belintersat-1 satellite into orbit.
The European Space Agency launched its 'Mars Express,' the first planetary mission in Europe.