space ships timeline By lk3682@k12.sd.us Apr 12, 1961 The Vostok 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on April 12, 1961, is often considered the first true spaceship. The Vostok 1 is often considered the first true spaceship. May 25, 1961 President Kennedy announces goal of getting a man on the moon. 1965 The first moon walk happened. 1969 The first successful moon landing happened 1973 NASA's first space station 1983 The first American women was in space 1990 The Hubble telescope was launched to explore space from the ground. 1993 The international space station was starting to be built 2003 The first paying tourist went to space. 2015 New horizons fly by Pluto