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War of the Worlds is Published
The War of the Worlds was one of the first works of science fiction and an alien invasion. While the sci fi elements are merely a backdrop to the novels themes of imperialism, it would inspire a new generation of both scientists and authors. most notably Robert H. Goddard(10). -
First Liquid Fueled Rocket
Born in 1882, Robert Hutching Goddard was an American inventor. He is credited for creating the first liquid fueled rocket in 1926 and inventing the multistage rocket, which would later serve as the basis for almost every rocket ever flown. In his life, his work was ridiculed and only after his death would his achievements receive the praise they rightfully deserved(4). -
First V-2 Launch
During WWII, Werner von Braun, a German Rocket Scientist, was ordered to work on a weapons program for the A4 (Later V-2) ballistic missile. Drawing on Goddard's work (of which von Braun said had saved him "years of work"), von Braun would become a pioneer of both missile and rocket technologies(11). -
End of WWII in Europe
Just prior to the Fall of Berlin and the end of Nazi Germany, the U.S began Operation Paperclip. Paperclip was an attempt to secure as much Nazi weapons technology before it could be captured by the incoming Soviet Army. The most notable effect of Paperclip was the defection of Werner von Braun. -
Sputnik 1 Launch
Since the end of WWII, the Soviets and the U.S were hard at work developing ICBMs. ICBMs allowed a military to conduct a nuclear attack anywhere in the world within hours, this time frame was far faster than strategic bombers were capable of. On top of an R-7 ICBM sat a small metal sphere that could only beep in a regular pattern. The successful launch of Sputnik 1 would begin the Space Race(9). -
Vostok 1
While only lasting 108 minutes, Vostok 1 would become one of the most infamous moments during the Space Race as Yuri Gagarin became the first human to venture into the Final Frontier(2). -
Star Trek
Beginning as a simple story about a crew exploring the Milky Way galaxy, Gene Roddenberry would create an infamous piece of cultural, Star Trek. Heavily inspired by naval vessels, the U.S.S Enterprise would become a staple of science fiction and begin a trend of design that would endure for decades(12). -
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
On this day, "one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind" would be uttered by Neil Armstrong as he became to the first man to step foot on another world. After the final moon flight of Apollo 17, no man or woman has stepped foot on the moon since then. Now, all that is left of these missions, is the base of the lander and a white flag, once a vibrant American flag, bleached by the intense rays of the sun(1). -
Star Wars is released in theaters
Inspired by WWII era dogfights and ship battles, George Lucas created a film that would go down in history. Lucas's attempt at this was a new story, set "a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away," that focused on a young "jedi" named Luke Skywalker and his companion's journey to topple the evil Galactic Empire. Star Wars became an immediate success, thanks to its story and WWII style ship battles. This naval focused view of space craft would take over science fiction for decades to come(3). -
Battlestar Galactica is aired
While not as popular as Star Wars or Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica influenced the genre in its own way. The series follows the sole capital ship of the Colonial Fleet as they escape a genocidal android race, and attempt to find earth. The show is interesting in that it is one of he few that has its space craft obey Newtonian Physics. While it is relatively alone in this portrayal of space craft, it would soon become immensely popular artistic choice(6). -
First Space Shuttle Launch
On the 20th anniversary of Vostok 1, the U.S launched a revolutionary new rocket, the Space Shuttle. The Shuttle was unique in that it was the first space craft designed to be reusable. This was done in an attempt to lower launch costs which turned out to be the exact opposite. While the Shuttle has been faced with numerous controversies, most notably the tragic loss of 14 crew members, it was still one of the most successful rockets ever flown with 133 successful flights(8). -
Halo is released for XBOX
In the 21st century a new medium for entertainment had begun to become popular, Video Games. In an attempt to enter this new market, Microsoft created the Xbox and its most significant launch title, Halo. While being principally a story about a super soldier fighting against an invasive alien race, Halo introduced many modern concepts to the genre. A notable one is the Dropship. Inspired by the Space Shuttle, these new space planes would dominate the genre. -
Avatar
Unlike other movies and franchises of the genre, director James Cameron wanted to create a series wholly dedicated to an accurate portrayal of physics and space travel. While Avatar itself has not aged well in terms of critical reception, the ISV Venture star (pictured above), as well as the other space craft in the film, hold a special place in the genre as the most accurate "Futuristic" space craft ever conceived(7). -
The Expanse
Following Avatar, authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, wrote the acclaimed novel series "The Expanse." Set in a Distant future, the novels are one of the first to fully depict not just realistic space travel but also the effects of lower gravity. It even introduced the concept of the Flip and Burn, a maneuver only possible by realistic spacecraft.. Adapted into an Amazon Tv series, "The Expanse" is acclaimed for both its realism and compelling story(5).