Astronomy and Space Exploration
- January 26 - Ranger 3 is launched to study the Moon. The space probe later misses the Moon by 22,000 miles.
- February 4–5 - During a new moon and total solar eclipse, an extremely rare grand conjunction of the classical planets occurs, including all five of the naked-eye planets plus the Sun and Moon, all within 16° of each another on the ecliptic.
- February 19 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
- February 20 - Mercury program: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn orbits the Earth three times in 4 hours, 55 minutes, becoming the first American to do so.
- April 26 - The Ranger 4 spacecraft crashes into the Moon.
- May 24 - Mercury program: Scott Carpenter becomes the second American to orbit the Earth aboard Aurora 7.
- July 17 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
- July 11 – First live transatlantic television broadcast from the United States to Britain, via AT&T's Telstar satellite (launched the previous day) and Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station.
- July 22 - Mariner program: The Mariner 1 spacecraft flies erratically several minutes after launch and has to be destroyed.
- July 31 - Annular solar eclipse
- August 15 - Penumbral lunar eclipse
Read more about this topic: 1962 In Science
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