The V-2 crosses the edge of space

What happened

Germany's V-2 ballistic missile became the first human-made object to reach the edge of space during wartime test flights.

Why it matters

A weapon of war proved spaceflight physically possible — and seeded both superpowers' rocket programs.

Sources

• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Missile, Surface-to-Surface, V-2 (collection record) · Reputable source