M11201

                                          Space exploration

When the Nazi Germany started using rockets as weapons, this triggered the idea of using and riding rockets to go to the outer space and explore other planets. This is when the space exploration begun.

On October 4, 1957 the soviets launched the very first artificial satellite named Sputnik 1. Four years later on April 12, 1961, a Russian Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin became the very first human to orbit the Earth using Vostok 1.

It was January 31, 1958 when the US launched its very first satellite named Explorer 1. In 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American to fly into space.

President John F. Kennedy set a national goal in 1961 “Landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth within a decade”. This is when the business got serious. Who would forget about the “giant step for mankind” on July 20, 1969, the history was made, and an American named Neil Armstrong became the very first human to land, explore and step onto the moon.

By the early 1970’s orbiting communications and navigation satellites were in everyday use and the Mariner was mapping the surface of Mars and Voyager had sent back detailed images of Jupiter and Saturn, their rings and their moons.

Skylab, America’s first space station was a human-spaceflight.

Highlight of the 1970’s was the world’s first American and Russian space mission.

In the 1980’s satellite communications were able to carry television programs, and people were able to pick up the signals using their home dish antennas. Satellites are very useful, in 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear accident happened; we were able to see the photos of it using the satellites.

But there are some bad times. In January 1986 the shuttle Challenger exploded after launch, killing its crew of seven. The Challenger tragedy led to a reevaluation of America’s space program.

The Gulf War proved the value of satellites in modern war. Satellites were used to provide information on enemy troops movements and position, early warning of missile attacks, and accurate navigation. The modern satellites saved many lives in the Gulf War.

The International Space Station is now permanently crewed. With many partners contributing to its system design and construction, with former competitors now working together.

Today scientists are working to replace future space launch system for dependability, safety, and reliability.

Now NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) spends billions and billions of dollars just to find out if man can really live outside the planet Earth and if there really is life in other planets. Is this good for us?

In my opinion, it is good for us because by now Mother Earth is slowly dying due to pollution, over population and global warming, scientist and space explorators are eager to find out the answer to this question.

Do you believe that we can live outside planet Earth? I do, according to space.com scientist found a new planet that could harbor water. This planet is named Gliese 581 C, after its star, Gliese 581. The new planet is about fifty percent bigger than the Earth and about five times more massive.

"We have estimated that the mean temperature of this super-Earth lies between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius [32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit], and water would thus be liquid," Udry said.

If Earth is going to die, humans have a chance to survive by living outside planet Earth.