Astronautics

Spaceships are currently one of the greatest expressions of human intelligence, in the sense that now we not only move governed by the force of gravity that keeps us on the ground, but we already have machines with enough power to overcome it. , exceed escape velocity and enter deep space. The development of astronautics has allowed us greater scientific advances. Research and a globalization of information, especially with 'communications satellites', which are connecting us with the whole world, as if by magic. By way of history, in the first satellite launches there was a well-known rivalry between the United States and the former Soviet Union (USSR) to have the upper hand in the space race.

Scientific advances

The USSR surpassed its rival in America by putting the first artificial satellite into orbit, Sputnik I (10-04-1957). Sputnik circled the globe every 96.2 minutes and, due to the Earth's rotation, flew over all continents and almost all inhabited areas. No Westerner, in that era of haunting war, could help but feel that he had lost the skies to the enemy. A month later, Sputnik 2 was launched, weighing half a ton and putting the first living creature into orbit, a dog named Laika, which indicated Russia's intention to soon send a man into space.

Shortly after the launch of Sputnik 2, the Americans tried to place a Vanguard satellite into orbit; On April 12, 1961, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin would put a human being into orbit for the first time. The US, meanwhile, managed to put Explorer I into orbit (01-31-1958); Later, on 03-17-1958, the Americans put Vanguard I into orbit, somewhat smaller than the Explorer, which flew at 400 km. of our atmosphere. Man continued to be interested in space and the possibility of exploring it in detail; Thus many space programs arose that would take men into space, including Apollo, which in 1969 would allow Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin to walk on the Moon. From there astronautics continues to enchant us with machines like the Space Shuttle, planetary exploration probes and the future Venture Star X-33 that would replace the Shuttle.

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Astronautics is advancing rapidly and thinking about large-scale projects, such as the International Space Station, a true laboratory in orbit and permanent home for astronauts; the Hubble space telescope, the space exploration probes, with spectacular and very clear images of the planets; Some probes are also investigating comets and asteroids, something that is relatively new in this area. Recently, one of the biggest future projects is NASA's Constellation program, with a new generation of spacecraft whose initial purpose is to return to the Moon, with astronauts on board, to later think about manned missions to Mars. A challenge for our ingenuity and curiosity about space.

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