Spaceflight
The First Artificial Satellite
The First Human Spaceflight
Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union launched their own artificial satellite called the Sputnik 1, on October 4th, 1957. This was a major achievement in space flight advancements. The small metal sphere which weighed 83.6 kg was the first artificial satellite sent to space. This also opened up a new front on the Cold War, as the United States were also rushing to launch their own satellites and make advancements in space exploration. What followed was the Apollo 11 launched by the United States in 1969. The Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellites inaugurated the space age. The Sputnik 1 served as a pioneer for space orbit, as well as intensified Cold War tensions and the arms race. Both the United States and Soviet were competing to make advancements in space exploration. The Sputnik was able to orbit earth with an apogee of 940kilometres and a perigee of 230 kilometres, while orbiting the Earth every 96 minutes. The satellite dropped back into the earth’s atmosphere on January 4th, 1958, and burnt. This boosted the Soviet Union to lead the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union.
The Apollo 11 was the spaceflight, launched on July 16, 1969 that first landed humans on the moon. Its mission was to perform a safe lunar landing and return back to earth. The flight achieved President John F. Kennedy’s national goal, of performing a crewed lunar landing and returning to earth, set on May 25th, 1961. The flight's other primary objectives included the deployment of an Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, a television camera in order to transmit signals back to earth, a seismic experiment package, samples of lunar material, and to aid in the development of man’s capability to work in an interstellar environment. The mission involved the three spacecrafts; the Lunar Module Eagle, Command Module Columbia, and a Service Module. The flight included the astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin who took the first human steps on another planetary body. Apollo 11 reached an altitude of 118.65 miles, orbit of 30 revolutions, and a distance of 953,054 miles. The mission lasted 8 days, landing on July 24th, 1969, at 12:50 p.m. EDT. The astronauts brought back lunar samples as well as extensive photos of the terrain.
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Apollo 11 was one of the most important innovations in history, which resulted in man's first steps on the moon. The mission concluded U.S victory in the Space Race against the Soviet Union, and also provided many benefits in society. These include advancements in medicine, health, technology, transportation, environmental research, safety on earth, industrial productivity, and economic benefits.
Apollo 11
