Student Article
Everything You Need to Know About Space Travel (Almost)
Orbit (noun): The path an object takes around a planet or star.
Probe (noun): A spacecraft that explores space.
Ion drive (noun): A special kind of engine that pushes a spaceship forward by shooting out tiny, charged particles called ions.
Space travel is super exciting! Let's learn about how we started exploring space and why it's important.
The first rocket to space
The first human-made object to go into space was a German V2 missile in 1942. It flew up 117 miles. Later, scientists from Germany helped America and Russia build rockets that could carry nuclear weapons.
The Space Race begins
Russia was the first to reach Earth orbit with Sputnik 1 in 1957. Then came Sputnik 2, which carried a dog named Laika, the first animal in space. The USA followed with Explorer 1 in 1958. The space race began, and in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. In 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.
Why space travel matters
Space travel is important because it helps us explore new places and learn more about science. Space telescopes and probes give us new information about the Universe. Mining asteroids and the Moon for rare materials could help us in the future.
The challenges of deep space travel
Humans might travel to the farthest parts of our Solar System, but traveling to other stars is very difficult. We would need new technology, like ion drives and laser propulsion, to make it possible.
Space tech at home?
Space exploration also gives us new inventions, like memory foam mattresses and artificial hearts. These discoveries help us in our everyday lives.
© Paul Parsons / Our Media
Orbit (noun): The path an object takes around a planet or star.
Probe (noun): A spacecraft that explores space.
Ion drive (noun): A special kind of engine that pushes a spaceship forward by shooting out tiny, charged particles called ions.