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History of Space

The history of space travel dates back to the 20th century when the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957, followed by the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. The United States responded with its own human spaceflight program, Project Mercury, which launched its first astronaut, Alan Shepard, in 1961. The space race between the two superpowers culminated in the Apollo program, which landed humans on the moon for the first time in 1969. Since then, space exploration has continued with the launch of various unmanned probes and manned missions to explore the solar system and beyond. References: NASA. (2021). History of space exploration.

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Apollo 11: Man on the Moon

The first moon landing was achieved on July 20, 1969, by the United States Apollo 11 mission, which consisted of astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the lunar surface while Collins orbited above. Armstrong famously declared, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as he became the first human to set foot on the moon. The landing was a historic achievement for NASA and the culmination of the Apollo program, which had been in development since the early 1960s. The mission provided valuable scientific data and insights into the lunar surface, and paved the way for future space exploration. References: NASA. (2021). Apollo 11.

SOURCE: NASA

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Space Shuttle Columbia

The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first orbiter in NASA's Space Shuttle program, making its maiden flight in 1981. Over the course of its 22-year career, the Columbia completed 27 missions and spent over 300 days in space. It was tragically lost in 2003 when it disintegrated during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members on board. The disaster was caused by damage sustained to the shuttle's thermal protection system during launch, which allowed superheated gases to enter the vehicle during re-entry. Despite the tragedy, the legacy of the Columbia lives on, as its mission paved the way for further space exploration and scientific discoveries.