Since the mid-twentieth century, humans have sent spacecraft, satellites, and astronauts beyond Earth's atmosphere.
The launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 marked the beginning of the space age, culminating in the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969.
Uncrewed spacecraft have explored nearly every planet, with rovers like Curiosity studying the Martian surface.
Operating since 2000, the ISS serves as an orbiting laboratory for research in microgravity.
Private companies have joined government agencies in developing reusable rockets and planning missions to Mars.