Exploring the Race to Space – Who Was the First Person to Enter the Cosmos?
The Race to Space was one of the most significant events of the 20th century and continues to fascinate people to this day. Although the Soviet Union and the United States were the two major players in this race, several countries contributed to the scientific advances that made space exploration possible.
The Start of the Space Race
It began in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, marking the first time a human-made object had orbited the Earth. This triggered a space race that would continue until 1975, with both nations vying for dominance in space exploration.
First Manned Space Flight
On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person to enter outer space. Gagarin orbited the Earth once in his Vostok 1 spacecraft for approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes before safely returning to Earth. His achievement marked a new milestone in space exploration, and the Soviet Union quickly publicized his success, enhancing Gagarin to the status of a national hero.
Alan Shepard becomes the first American in Space
Less than a month later, on 5 May 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American astronaut to enter outer space. He flew the Mercury capsule, Freedom 7, for 15 minutes and 28 seconds, suborbital flight that reached an altitude of 116 miles. This was a significant achievement in the US space program, and NASA was determined to continue exploring it further.
First Person to Walk in Space
On 18 March 1965, Soviet cosmonaut, Alexei Leonov, walked in space, making him the first person to do so. Leonov spent 12 minutes and nine seconds outside of his spacecraft, orbiting the Earth. The spacewalk was a significant achievement for the Soviet space program.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing
On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the first human beings to walk on the moon, a milestone that was achieved in less than a decade by NASA. Armstrong’s iconic words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” will forever be etched in history.
Conclusion
Exploring outer space has come a long way since Yuri Gagarin’s historic achievement in 1961. Since then, several milestones have been achieved, including the first spacewalk, the first woman in space, the launch of the first international space station, and space tourism becoming a possibility. The Space Race was a significant event that brought people together to explore the unknown and created new technologies that have had a profound impact on society.
