* Early Rockets: While not strictly space flight, early rockets like those developed by Robert H. Goddard in the 1920s laid the groundwork. He's often considered the "father of modern rocketry."
* First Animal in Space: The first living creature to reach space was a dog named Laika, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957 on the Sputnik 2 mission.
* First Human in Space: Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first human to orbit Earth in 1961 on the Vostok 1 mission.
* First Spacecraft to Orbit the Moon: The Soviet Union's Luna 10 was the first spacecraft to orbit the moon in 1966.
* First Man on the Moon: Neil Armstrong, an American astronaut, became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission.
So, depending on what you consider "space flight," you could say it was invented:
* Early 20th century: With the development of early rockets
* 1957: With the launch of Sputnik 2
* 1961: With the launch of Vostok 1
It's important to remember that space flight is a culmination of many technological advancements and the efforts of countless individuals over many years.
