April 1971 -- First Space Station Salyut, the world's first space station, was launched aboard the Soviet Proton launch vehicle. During the next decade, six more Salyuts were launched. The goal of these missions was to perform scientific experiments and test equipment that would make space more habitable long-term. Of the 32 missions to the Salyuts, the longest stay was 237 days aboard Salyut 7.