Space Exploration

Space Exploration

Period: Jan 1, 1950 to May 6, 2015

Space Exploration

Period: Jan 1, 1950 to Dec 31, 2015

Sputnik 1

Oct 4, 1957

1. Sputnik 1 was the first artificial earth satellite.
2. The Soviet Union launched this satellite and its purpose was to map the earth’s surface.
3. It was important because it forced the USA to join the space race

Explorer 1

Jan 31, 1958

1. The United States launched this artificial satellite.
2. It was launched in response to the Soviet Union’s Sputnik.
3. It was important because it measured the radiation belt around the earth

Mercury Freedom 7

May 5, 1961

1. Mercury Freedom 7 was the first U. S. manned flight. Alan Shepard was on board.
2. The purpose was to test the ability of the craft to re-enter earth’s atmosphere.
3. The splash down recovery took almost 2 hours which resulted in the capsule almost sinking.

Gemini 3

Mar 23, 1965

1. Gemini 3 was a U. S. planetary Orbiter.
2. It was the first manned mission in this program piloted by Virgil Grissom and John Young.
3. It was also the final manned flight controlled by Florida before mission control functions.
4. Its purpose was to test the ability to change the shape of the orbit and lower the ship’s altitude.

Apollo 11

Jul 20, 1969

1. Apollo 11 was the U. S. spacecraft that landed the first humans on the moon.
2. Buzz Aldine, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins were on board.
3. The mission was broadcast on T.V.
4. It was fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program.
5. It was important because it ended the race to land on the moon.

Viking 1

Aug 20, 1975

1. Viking 1 was a U. S. Planetary Orbiter. It was one of two missions. There were no astronauts on board.
2. The purpose of the mission was to the planet Mars and collect data. It sent images of Mar’s soil back to earth.
3. United States was in charge of the Viking mission.

Voyager 1

Sep 5, 1977

1. Voyager 1 was an unmanned. space probe
2. The purpose of the mission was to the planet originally sent to study Jupiter and Saturn.
3. United States was in charge of the Voyager mission.
4. It is still in operation today. It is scheduled to work until 2025.

Columbia Space Shuttle (first launch)

Apr 12, 1981

1. Columbia Space (first launch) was manned mission of Apollo program.
2. The purpose of the mission was to test reusable spacecraft’s.
3. United States was in charge of the Columbia Space Shuttle.
4. It made 27 successful missions. On the 28th 4. Mission it disintegrated while reentering the atmosphere on Feb. 1, 2003.

Mars Pathfinder

Dec 4, 1996

1. Mars Pathfinder was a Mars Rover
2. The purpose of the mission was to land on the planet Mars and collect data.
3. United States was in charge of the pathfinder.

International Space Station (ISS)

Nov 20, 1998

1. The ISS is an artificial satellite owned by Russia and U.S.
2. Its purpose is to conduct research experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, and meteorology.
3. It is the largest satellite in space

Spirit and Opportunity

Jan 24, 2004

1. Spirit and Opportunity are 2 robotic rovers conducting ongoing research on Mars.
2. The purpose of the mission was to land on the planet Mars and collect data about the possibility of life on Mars.

United States was in charge of the Spirit and Opportunity.

Kepler

May 7, 2009

1. The Kepler is a space telescope made to explore a part of the Milky Way.
2. It sends information back to earth.
3. The purpose of the mission is to estimate the number of stars in our galaxy that have planets.

I4. in 2014 it predicted that there could be as many as 2, 903 unconfirmed planet candidates.

Curiosity

May 7, 2014

1. The Curiosity is robotic rover the size of a car that explores the Gale Crater on Mars.
2. Its mission is to determine if there was ever life on Mars.
3. The Curiosity explores the climate and geology of the planet United States was in charge of the Curiosity.