Student Article

Space travel has come a long way since the first rocket was launched. Let's explore the history, importance, and future of space exploration.

The first rocket to space

The first human-made object to go into space was a German V2 missile launched in 1942, reaching an altitude of 117 miles. After World War II, German rocket scientists helped America and Russia develop rockets capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The Space Race begins

Russia was the first to reach Earth orbit with Sputnik 1 in 1957. This was followed by Sputnik 2, which carried the first animal, a dog named Laika, into space. The USA joined with Explorer 1 in 1958, and the space race began. Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon in 1969.

Why space travel matters

Space travel is important for several reasons. It satisfies our curiosity and desire to explore new places. It also advances science by providing new information about the Universe through space telescopes and probes. Mining asteroids and the Moon for rare materials could be beneficial for future technology.

The challenges of deep space travel

It’s entirely feasible that human explorers will visit the furthest reaches of our Solar System. The stars, however, are another matter. Interstellar space is so vast that it takes light years, centuries, and millennia to traverse it. We need new propulsion technologies, like ion drives and laser propulsion, to make it possible. Whether human astronauts could survive such punishing acceleration, or the decades-long journey through deep space, remains to be seen.

Space tech at home?

The development of space travel technology has led to unintended yet beneficial "spin-off" technologies. Notable inventions include memory foam mattresses, artificial hearts, and the lubricant spray WD-40.

© Paul Parsons / Our Media