September 15,2023
By Sonakshi Kandhari
The cosmic realms have inspired man since time immemorial and still do. Hence, many space missions have been executed to closely observe the universe. Let’s learn about 7 space missions that created history.
Image Source: Pxfuel
Launched on 4 October, 1957, it was the first ever object to enter space. It pivoted the Earth 1440 times in a duration of 21 days and paved the way for space voyages.
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Primarily launched to explore Jupiter and Saturn, it surpassed expectations and explored Jupiter’s volcanoes and Saturn’s rings too. Furthermore, in 1990, it succeeded in capturing a picture of the entire solar system.
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Scaled Composites of Mojave, California’s aircraft designer, Burt Rutan, was responsible for developing this spacecraft. Mike Melvil, who piloted it, went on to become the first ever commercial astronaut pilot.
Image Source; Wikimedia Commons
With this mission, a man set foot in space. On 12 April, 1961, Yuri Gagarin boarded the Vostok. The voyage lasted for 108 minutes, but it marked the beginning of man’s journey to space.
Image Source: NASA
Man made it to the moon! The journey from Florida's Cape Kennedy to the moon's surface took 4 days. Neil Armstrong and his commander, Buzz Aldrin, walked on the moon and spent 3 hours exploring it.
Image Source: NASA
Launched on 4 December 1996, its rover, the 23-pound Sojourner, landed at its destination on 4 July, 1997. The mission revealed the possibility of flowing water on Mars.
Image Source: NASA
After a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency, this spacecraft was launched on 15 October, 1997 and spent 20 years in space. It travelled between the moons of Saturn and briefly studied Jupiter too.
Image Source; Wikimedia Commons