What are the major events in the history of space travel and exploration?

Space travel and exploration have come a long way since the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. Here are some of the major events that have shaped the history of space travel and exploration:

• 1957: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, into space.
• 1961: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel to space.
• 1969: NASA's Apollo 11 mission lands the first humans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the moon.
• 1971: The Soviet Union's Mars 3 probe becomes the first spacecraft to land on Mars.
• 1972: NASA's Apollo 17 mission marks the last time humans have been on the moon.
• 1986: The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes during takeoff, killing all seven crew members.
• 1998: The first components of the International Space Station are launched into orbit.
• 2012: The Mars Curiosity rover lands on Mars to explore its surface.
• 2020: NASA's Perseverance rover lands on Mars to search for signs of past microbial life.

These are just a few of the major events in the history of space travel and exploration. As technology continues to advance, there will undoubtedly be many more exciting developments in the future.