Today's Technology in Space Exploration

Today's technology is moving from large scale systems to miniaturized systems. Quite interesting how the size of spacecrafts can be reduced greatly and still able to carry out the functions desired. The example shown below isa Swedish microsatellite called NanoSpace-1.

NanoSpace-1
Ref : http://www.aim.uu.se/Satellites/nanospace.html

This nanosatellite, based on very advanced implementation of multifunctional Micro/Nano Technology MNT. Its main objective is to validate this new breed of spacecraft implemented on a modular platform composed of functional microsystem modules or subsystems.

It is composed mainly of:

• Wave Vector Receive
• Density Probe
• Magnetometer
• Antennas & Booms
• Controller Area Network

Some Spacecrafts and Space Missions

A replica of USSR Sputnik I spacecraft
Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sputnik_asm.jpg

The first artificial satellite to be put into the Earth's orbit .A technology

driven spacecraft, developed by the Soviet Union and launched on the 

4 October 1957, with purpose to carry out atmospheric studies.

USA satellite Explorer I
Ref : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Explorer1.jpg

 First American Earth satellite. Was launched 31 January 1958 

and was the first satellite to detect the Van Allen radiation belt.

Apollo II lunar mdule: Eagle
Ref : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module Eagle, in a landing configuration. The crew in 

the module was made up of Commander Neil A. Armstrong and Lunar Module 

Pilot Buzz Aldrin.

Space Exploration and a Few Milestones

Space shuttle at launch
Ref:http://www.sodahead.com

The speed at which technology is evolving is quite impressive. Only a few decades ago humans invented the plane and started flying. Today we are talking of exploring other planets in the solar system. Quite impressive for this short interval of time. I wonder where technology will take us in the next hundred years.

It all started with the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first man-made object into the Earth's orbit (USSR's Sputnik 1) while on July 20, 1969 the USA landed the first man on the moon (Apollo 11).

Since then, man has continued in his pursuit for the exploration of deep space. Wondering about the vastness of the universe, it has been his quest to understand how the universe works, its origin and its fate.

Some Milestones in Space Exploration History

• October 4, 1957 : Launch of first man-made object to orbit the Earth by USSR (Sputnik 1)
• November 3, 1957 : USSR launches Sputnik II with dog named Laika onboard
• April 12, 1961 : First human to enter space  with a safe return (Cosmanaut Yuri Gagarin)
• July 20, 1969 :  The first men to walk on the moon. Astronauts Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong.
• March 2, 1972 : Launch of Earth's first probe (unmanned Pioneer 10) to an outer planet,    passing through the asteroid belt, and the first man-made object to leave the solar system.
• August 20, 1975 : Launch of Viking 1, the first orbiter and lander sent to Mars
• November 20, 1998 : The first part of the International Space Station is launched.