TABLE OF CONTENTS The Space Age Began More Than 50 Years Ago 4 The Space Station Remains Important 6 An Astronaut Will Live in Space for One Year 8 NASA May Send Astronauts to Mars 10 Four People May Live on Mars by 2025 12 Earth’s Twin Has Been Discovered 14 Alien Life Could Be Found Within 20 Years 16 Warp Drive and Interstellar Travel Create Debate 18 Astronauts Can Print 3-D Tools in Space 20 Astronauts Will Use Mobile Apps in Spaceflight 22 The First Flyby of Pluto Will Happen in 2015 24 Space Tourism May Become a Reality 26 Fact Sheet 28 Glossary 30 For More Information 31 Index 32 About the Author 32
1 THE SPACE AGE BEGAN MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO On October 4 1957 the Soviet Union now Russia launched Sputnik 1 Sputnik was the first manmade satellite Though only the size of a beach ball the little satellite made a big impact It started a Space Age that has lasted more than 50 years Some scientists and historians argue the Space Age is over However others say recent innovations and projects show the era of space exploration is still alive and well 4 A photo of Earth taken by the Apollo 16 crew in 1972 At the beginning of the Space Age there was a Space Race The Soviet Union and the United States raced to be the first to launch people into space land an astronaut on the moon and explore space On May 25 1961 President 1,400 Number of Earth orbits the first spacecraft Sputnik 1 completed in 1958 The Space Age started in 1957 when Russia launched the satellite Sputnik On July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong became the first person to stand on the moon Space exploration still excites people in the United States and around the world
NASA’s facilities on Cape Canaveral in Florida John F Kennedy announced his goal of sending an American to the moon before 1970 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA would be in charge of the US space program Over the next eight years NASA scientists worked hard to develop technology that could safely land an astronaut on the moon On July 20 1969 Kennedy’s goal was achieved That day astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped off the ladder of Apollo 11’s lunar module and onto the surface on the moon Since 1969 NASA’s missions have launched satellites telescopes research vehicles and astronauts into space In 2011 NASA announced the end of its space shuttle program that transported THINK ABOUT IT How would you help make sure space exploration continues Would you give up your time to campaign Would you donate your own money astronauts into space and to the International Space Station But that did not mean Americans no longer could explore space Instead of racing against each other Russia the United States and other spacefaring countries now work together American astronauts travel to space in Russian spacecraft Private companies in the United States are also developing their own spacefaring vessels The exploration of space continues to excite scientists Americans and people around the globe 5
