🌌Space Journey - Episode 2: The Journey From Sputnik To SpaceX

 Hello! Welcome to my blog.

In Episode 1, we have seen the universe through our curious eyes and basic scientific knowledge. But how do we humans discover that vast universe? 🤔

From the sound "beep-beep" of Sputnik 1 in 1957, to the spectacular lift-offs of SpaceX Falcon 9. In Episode 2, you'll see the journey of space technologies and how it has changed the way humanity reaches the universe. Don't waste time anymore; let's get started! ✨

Resources: NASA

🛰️1. Sputnik 1 - the "beep-beep" that opened a new era (1957)

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit our Earth. It was just 58 cm wide and weighed only 83 kg, only as heavy as an industrial washing machine now, but its simple "beep-beep" signals shocked the world.

Sputnik 1 proved one thing: humanity could reach space. Besides, it also sparked the Space Race and inspired humanity's dream of exploring the universe.

Sputnik 1 (Resources: Wikipedia)

The designs of the rocket that launched Sputnik 1 (Resources: Wikipedia)

👩‍🚀2. The first human ever to go to space - Yuri Gagarin (1961)

On April 12, 1961, history was made when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human ever to go to space on the Vostok 1. His flight only lasted 108 minutes, but it already changed humanity's opinion about space forever.

With his famous words "Poyekhali!" ("Let's go!"), Gagarin inspired humanity to look from our Earth to the vast universe full of stars.

Yuri Gagarin (Resources: Wikipedia)

Model of the Vostok 1 spacecraft, the vehicle that carried Gagarin into space (Resources: Wikimedia Commons)

🚀3. Apollo 11 - Stepping on the Moon (1969)

On July 20, 1969, the world watched as Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin walked on the Moon after the Saturn V rocket had brought them.

Apollo 11 isn't just a technological achievement - it proved that humans can walk on another world. The Moon landing of the Apollo 11 mission marked a significant milestone in humanity's space exploration.

The picture of the moment when Neil Armstrong planted the American flag on the Moon. (Resources: NASA)

The Saturn V rocket. (Resources: NASA)

🛸4. The Space Shuttle Era (1981-2011)

After the Moon landing, NASA introduced a new kind of spacecraft - the Space Shuttle. Unlike normal rockets, shuttles are designed to be reusable, making space travel more cost-effective.

From 1981 to 2011, five orbiters (Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour) carried astronauts, deployed satellites, launched the Hubble Space Telescope, and built the International Space Station (ISS).

The Columbia Space Shuttle (Resources: Wikimedia Commons)

The Discovery Space Shuttle. (Resources: Wikimedia Commons)

🌍5. International Space Station (1998-Now)

Since November 20, 1998, the International Space Station (ISS) has been humanity's home in orbit around Earth. Built through global cooperation between NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA, it showed that we can achieve together.

Orbiting Earth every 90 minutes, the ISS hosts astronauts around the world, serving as both a science lab and a symbol of unity.

International Space Station (Resources: NASA)

Resources: Wikipedia

💡6. Private Spaceflight Era - SpaceX & Beyond (2008-Now)

Since the 2010s, private companies have reshaped space exploration. SpaceX led the way with reusable rockets and launched the first commercial spacecraft ever to dock with the ISS in 2012.

Falcon 9, a rocket of SpaceX (Resources: Wikipedia)

Following suit, companies like Blue Origin and Rocket Lab emerged, opening up new opportunities for tourism, research, and future space missions. Space is no longer for governments; it's becoming accessible for everyone.

New Shepard, a rocket of Blue Origin (Resources: Space.com)

Conclusion

From the first affricative "beep-beep" of Sputnik 1 to the reusable rockets of SpaceX, humanity's journey into space has transformed from Space War to global cooperation. Each milestone - Apollo, ISS, SpaceX, and Blue Origin - reflects our relentless achieve to exceed the limit.

Episode 2 ends here, but the journey continues. The stars are waiting, and the next chapter will our dreams might take us next...🌌

🔮Next Episode Preview

We've seen the rockets, space shuttles, and stations that carried us beyond Earth.🚀

But once astronauts get there... how do they actually live?🤔

In Episode 3: Life Without Gravity, we'll discover how astronauts eat, sleep, and even brush their teeth while floating in microgravity.🍴😴🪥✨

📚Learn More

Want to dive deeper into humanity's journey to space? Check these links:

🌍NASA - Human Spaceflight History

🛰️ESA - The International Space Station

🚀SpaceX - Launches & Missions

Connect with me:

Email: trinhlehoangphuoc@gmail.com

GitHub: https://github.com/phuoc-trinh 

See you next Friday!