Space ExplorationSpace Exploration

1960 to Present1960 to Present

President John F. KennedyPresident John F. KennedyMay 25, 1961May 25, 1961

On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced before a special joint session of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon of Congress the dramatic and ambitious goal of sending an American safely to the Moon

before the end of the decade.before the end of the decade.

http://http://history.nasa.gov/moondec.htmlhistory.nasa.gov/moondec.html

Project MercuryProject Mercury

Project MercuryProject Mercury was the first was the first human spaceflighthuman spaceflight program of the program of the United StatesUnited States. It ran from 1959 through 1963 with the goal of putting a . It ran from 1959 through 1963 with the goal of putting a human in orbit around the Earth. The human in orbit around the Earth. The Mercury-Atlas 6Mercury-Atlas 6 flight on February 20, flight on February 20, 1962, was the first American flight to achieve this goal.1962, was the first American flight to achieve this goal.[1][1]

John Glenn during the first orbital manned Mercury flight in 1962

Piloted Mercury launches

                                                                           

All Gemini Launches from GT-1 through GT-12.

Gemini ProgramGemini Program Project GeminiProject Gemini was the second was the second human spaceflighthuman spaceflight program of program of

NASANASA, the civilian space agency of the , the civilian space agency of the United StatesUnited States government. government. Project Gemini was conducted between Projects Project Gemini was conducted between Projects MercuryMercury and and ApolloApollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966., with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966.

Its objective was to develop techniques for advanced space travel, notably those necessary for Apollo, whose objective was to land humans on the Moon. Gemini missions included missions long enough for a trip to the Moon and back

The Apollo Program (1963 - 1972) The Apollo Program (1963 - 1972)

The Apollo program was designed to land The Apollo program was designed to land humans on the Moon and bring them humans on the Moon and bring them safely back to Earth. Six of the missions safely back to Earth. Six of the missions (Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) (Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) achieved this goal. achieved this goal.

                                 

Buzz Aldrin during Apollo 11's first Moon landing mission in 1969

                                 

Apollo 16 LM on the lunar surface

First Lunar LandingFirst Lunar Landing

The The United United StatesStates's 's Apollo 11Apollo 11 was the first was the first manned mission to land on the Moon on manned mission to land on the Moon on 20 July 1969.20 July 1969.[4][4] There have been There have been six manned landingssix manned landings (between 1969 and (between 1969 and 1972) and numerous unmanned landings. 1972) and numerous unmanned landings.

SkylabSkylab

SkylabSkylab was the United States' first was the United States' first space stationspace station, and , and the second visited by a human crew after the Soviet the second visited by a human crew after the Soviet Salyut 1Salyut 1. The only station . The only station NASANASA has launched has launched independently, the 77-tonindependently, the 77-ton[1][1] outpost was in Earth orbit outpost was in Earth orbit from 1973 to 1979 and was visited by crews three from 1973 to 1979 and was visited by crews three times between 1973 and 1974. times between 1973 and 1974.

                                                                        

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SSkkyyllaabb ccoonnffiigguurraattiioonn wwiitthh ddoocckkeedd CCoommmmaanndd//SSeerrvviiccee MMoodduullee

Apollo/Soyuz MissionsApollo/Soyuz Missions The The Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP)Apollo–Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) ( (RussianRussian: :

Экспериментальный полёт «Союз» — «Аполлон»Экспериментальный полёт «Союз» — «Аполлон») ) ((Eksperimantalniy polyot Soyuz-ApollonEksperimantalniy polyot Soyuz-Apollon) flew in July ) flew in July 1975. It was the last 1975. It was the last ApolloApollo mission, the first joint mission, the first joint U.S.U.S.//SovietSoviet space flightspace flight, and the last manned US space , and the last manned US space mission until the first mission until the first Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle flight in April 1981. flight in April 1981.

Though the mission included both joint and separate scientific experiments (including an engineered eclipse of the Sun by Apollo for Soyuz to take photographs of the solar corona) and provided useful engineering experience for future joint US/Russian space flights such as the Shuttle–Mir Program and the International Space Station, its primary purpose was symbolic. ASTP was a symbol of détente that the two superpowers were pursuing at the time, and it ended the tension of the Space Race.

Space Shuttle ProgramSpace Shuttle Program The shuttle project was proposed and discussed extensively. Finally, on The shuttle project was proposed and discussed extensively. Finally, on

January 5, 1972, President January 5, 1972, President Richard M. NixonRichard M. Nixon authorized the development of authorized the development of reusable vehicles for space exploration. The project became known officially reusable vehicles for space exploration. The project became known officially as the Space Transportation System, and unofficially as the Space Shuttle as the Space Transportation System, and unofficially as the Space Shuttle Program.Program.

The first operational shuttle was the The first operational shuttle was the ColumbiaColumbia. Between April . Between April 21, 1981, and July 4, 1982, it performed four missions to 21, 1981, and July 4, 1982, it performed four missions to demonstrate that the vehicle could be put into space, perform demonstrate that the vehicle could be put into space, perform useful work, and return safely to Earth. After the fourth landing, useful work, and return safely to Earth. After the fourth landing, NASA declared the shuttle ready for operation. In July 1982 NASA declared the shuttle ready for operation. In July 1982

Challenger Challenger

Disaster struck the space shuttle program on Disaster struck the space shuttle program on January 28, 1986. The January 28, 1986. The ChallengerChallenger disaster disaster claimed the lives of all seven of its crew, claimed the lives of all seven of its crew, including including Christa McAuliffeChrista McAuliffe, who was to be the , who was to be the first teacher in space. The repercussions of the first teacher in space. The repercussions of the ChallengerChallenger loss brought the shuttle program to a loss brought the shuttle program to a halt for two and a half years. With a revamped halt for two and a half years. With a revamped design and solid-fuel rockets, the design and solid-fuel rockets, the DiscoveryDiscovery took took off on September 28, 1988, marking the off on September 28, 1988, marking the resumption of regular shuttle flights.resumption of regular shuttle flights.

EndeavorEndeavor Everything went as planned for Everything went as planned for NASANASA as it launched the Endeavor from the as it launched the Endeavor from the

Kennedy Space Center at approximately 8:56 am eastern for its 25th and Kennedy Space Center at approximately 8:56 am eastern for its 25th and final mission.final mission.

http://westorange.patch.com/articles/nasa-space-shuttle-endeavor-launches

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20063290-501465.html

International Space StationInternational Space Station The The International Space StationInternational Space Station ( (ISSISS) is an internationally ) is an internationally

developed research facility that is being assembled in low Earth developed research facility that is being assembled in low Earth orbit. The objective of the ISS, as defined by NASA, is to develop orbit. The objective of the ISS, as defined by NASA, is to develop and test technologies for exploration spacecraft systems, develop and test technologies for exploration spacecraft systems, develop techniques to maintain crew health and performance on missions techniques to maintain crew health and performance on missions beyond low Earth orbit, and gain operational experience that can be beyond low Earth orbit, and gain operational experience that can be applied to exploration missions.[ applied to exploration missions.[