CONQUEST OF SPACE
[Notes: History of space flights the conquest of the moon-exploration of other planets- establishment of space stations.]
The history of man's conquest of space began with the launching of the unmanned satellite named Sputnik Iinto space () by Soviet Russia on October 4, 1957.
Russia launched the second Sputnik on November 3, 1957. It weighed 508 Kilograms and had within it a living dog, named Laika. Laika had the good fortune to be the first space traveller. Thereafter Russia and America sent a number of satellites to space. The year 1961 is remarkable in the history of space flights. In that year Russia sent a satellite, Vostok I with a man on board. This man was Major Yurie Gagarin. He returned safely to the earth after circling the earth for an hour and forty-eight minutes. After Gagarin a number of Russian and American astronauts ventured into space.
The aim of all these space adventures was to enable man to land on the moon, the earth's nearest neighbour in space. This aim was fulfilled on July 21, 1969 when the American astronaut, Neil Armstrong landed on the moon and walked on it for two hours and a half. After the conquest of the moon man is out to explore other planets and satellites. America sent an unmanned space ship, Viking I into Mars and Russia to Venus.
Of late man has succeeded in establishing space stations where he can halt and wherefrom he can take off. The conquest of space will enable man to unearth the mystery of this vast universe.
