The most important first discoveries in optical space research are reviewed for the twenty years since the beginning in 1946. Only research conducted from space vehicles is included: rockets, earth orbiting vehicles, both unmanned and manned, space probes, and lunar landings. The optical fields involved are: measurements of extreme uv and x rays from the sun, including spectra, spectroheliograms, and monitoring; the white light solar corona; x-rays and extreme uv from stars and nebulae; the airglow; photography of the moon, Mars, and the earth; the technical breakthroughs that made the work possible. An extensive bibliography is included.

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