Space Race - Blog Posts

Mission and Its Instruments

Behind every successful mission, there are excellent instruments.

https://www.instagram.com/spaceexploration_genz/

https://www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z

https://www.redbubble.com/people/astro3antica/shop

Apollo 8 Christmas Message

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the Moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts did a live television broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and Moon seen from Apollo 8. They ended the broadcast with the crew taking turns reading from the book of Genesis.

https://www.instagram.com/spaceexploration_genz/

https://www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z

https://www.redbubble.com/people/astro3antica/shop

Launch of Globus IMP Navigation Instrument

The Globus IMP Navigation Instrument was sent into orbit by Vostok-K 8K72K.

https://www.instagram.com/spaceexploration_genz/

https://www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z

https://www.redbubble.com/people/astro3antica/shop

Instrument Panel on Vostok 1

The instrument panel of the Vostok 3KA-3 (Vostok 1), journey into space with the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

https://www.instagram.com/spaceexploration_genz/

https://www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z

https://www.redbubble.com/people/astro3antica/shop

Vostok 1 Instrument Panel

This panel is of the instrument panel of Vostok 1 spacecraft. Vostok 1 was the first spacecraft to carry a human into space.

https://www.instagram.com/spaceexploration_genz/

https://www.vsual.co/shop/space-exploration-gen-z

https://www.redbubble.com/people/astro3antica/shop

Okay then... how about we look at the lesser-known USA-first achievements, then?

First superheavy launch vehicle that worked and didn't blow up (Saturn V). 

First reusable piloted spacecraft and the first spaceplane (X-15).

First pilot-controlled space flight (Freedom 7)

First orbital human space mission that landed with pilot still in spacecraft and thus the first complete human spaceflight by FAI definitions (Friendship 7)

First rendezvous and docking in orbit (Gemini 8 - Agena Target Vehicle)

First successful orbit of different planets (Pioneer 10 mission).

First solar orbit (Pioneer 5).

First and second and third interstellar craft (Voyager 1, Voyager 2, New Horizons).

First manned maneuvering unit (Gemini 4)

First multi person multi spacecraft mission in space (Gemini 6).

First orbital vector adjustment to pinpoint precision (Gemini 6)   

First spy satellite (Corona KH-1)

First successful recovery of film from an orbiting satellite (KH-1 film return bucket)

First aerial recovery of an object returning from Earth orbit (KH-1 film return bucket)

First pinpoint landing on the Moon (Surveyor 1).

First manned orbit of the Moon (Apollo 8).

First human-crewed spaceflight to, and orbit of, another celestial object: the Moon (Apollo 11)

First rover on Mars (Sojourner)

First spacecraft to orbit Mars (Mariner 9).

First reusable orbital-class spaceplane (Space Shuttle).

First solar powered satellite (Vanguard-1)

First communications satellite (Echo 1, Telstar)

First weather satellite (TIROS)

First satellite in a polar orbit (Discoverer 1)

First geosynchronous satellite (Syncom 2)

First satellite navigation system (Transit)

First Mars flyby (Mariner 4)

First human spaceflight that escaped Earth's influence (Apollo 8)

First X-ray orbital observatory (the Einstein Observatory)

First Jupiter flyby (Pioneer 10)

First Mercury Flyby (Mariner 10)

the space race may be the funniest point in history period and i'll stand by that. the US is like "yes whoever gets into space first will prove once and for all that our economic model is superior and that we are, in general, the superior country of superior and smarter people." then the soviets just went and did it and the US freaked out and needed to cover their ass so were like "WE MEAN THE MOON, WE MEAN THE FIRST TO LAND ON THE MOON."

Just had a breakdown over the song “Laika” by Wil Wagner.

I then looked up things about the real Laika, like how Laika wasn’t even her first name, her name was Kudryavka, or Little Curly. and how one of the scientists admitted to regretting sending her up because they didn’t learn nearly as much as her life cost. She was only 3 when she was sent up and died of overheating because the satellites cooling system failed after either 7 hours or four days. Quote, “Laika, the first animal to be launched into orbit, died from overheating and panic in the tiny spacecraft – all alone and in severe pain.” AND THEY KNEW SHE WOULD DIE! They knew the probability of survival for her was near impossible! She didn’t even have a body to bury because it burnt up as the satellite fell to Earth. Yeah, they didn’t even try to bring her back down. The satellite eventually just fell 5 months later.

No, I’m not okay. I’m crying just typing this.