Space Exploration Unit Spaceflight Timeline. Chinese Invention of Fireworks and Gunpowder Gunpowder and Fireworks invented in China 2 century BCE.Gunpowder.

Space Exploration Unit Space Exploration Unit

Spaceflight Timeline

Chinese Invention of Fireworks Chinese Invention of Fireworks and Gunpowderand Gunpowder

• Gunpowder and Fireworks invented in Gunpowder and Fireworks invented in China 2 century BCE. China 2 century BCE.

• Gunpowder, a mixture composing of: 75% Potassium Gunpowder, a mixture composing of: 75% Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), 15% Charcoal (Carbon), and 10% Sulfur, Nitrate (KNO3), 15% Charcoal (Carbon), and 10% Sulfur,

provides the thrust for most fireworks.provides the thrust for most fireworks.

Robert GoddardRobert Goddard

• Invented the liquid fuel rocket Invented the liquid fuel rocket • ““Nell” Flew on March 16th, 1926Nell” Flew on March 16th, 1926• ““Father of Modern Rocketry”Father of Modern Rocketry”

• Solid fuel: must have air to combust. Solid fuel: must have air to combust. Once started, must burn outOnce started, must burn out

• Liquid fuel: some fuels can react with Liquid fuel: some fuels can react with no air. Engines can be shut down and no air. Engines can be shut down and restarted.restarted.

WWII Germany and the V-2WWII Germany and the V-2

• German scientists led by Herman German scientists led by Herman Oberth and Werner Von Braun picked Oberth and Werner Von Braun picked Goddard’s brain to develop their own Goddard’s brain to develop their own rockets capable of space travel. rockets capable of space travel.

• Hitler forced this research group to Hitler forced this research group to develop a missile that could carry a develop a missile that could carry a warhead to Britain. warhead to Britain.

• 1,100 V-2 rockets would impact 1,100 V-2 rockets would impact England in World War II.England in World War II.

WWII: V-2 Launch

Birth of the JetBirth of the Jet

• Also during WWII, the Germans Also during WWII, the Germans pioneered the first “practical” jet pioneered the first “practical” jet engine. They would be the only engine. They would be the only country to successfully use jets during country to successfully use jets during the war.the war.

Breaking the Sound BarrierBreaking the Sound Barrier

• Shortly after the war, the U.S. leads the way Shortly after the war, the U.S. leads the way in developing high performance aircraft.in developing high performance aircraft.

• Pilots and Engineers notice terrible Pilots and Engineers notice terrible turbulence as planes approach 760 miles per turbulence as planes approach 760 miles per hour-the speed of sound when most crashed hour-the speed of sound when most crashed due to lack of stability.due to lack of stability.

• Bell laboratories develops the first aircraft, Bell laboratories develops the first aircraft, technically a rocket plane” capable of technically a rocket plane” capable of breaking the sound barrier.breaking the sound barrier.

• October 14October 14thth, 1947 test pilot, Chuck Yeager, , 1947 test pilot, Chuck Yeager, becomes the first person to exceed the becomes the first person to exceed the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 sound barrier in the Bell X-1

Bell X-1Bell X-1

Postwar Russia-The Race to Space

• Russian rocket engineer Sergei Korolev Russian rocket engineer Sergei Korolev heads the post war spaceflight efforts heads the post war spaceflight efforts of the U.S.S.R. after being imprisoned of the U.S.S.R. after being imprisoned during at the end of WWII.during at the end of WWII.

• Korolev helps Russia develop the most Korolev helps Russia develop the most powerful and dependable rocket powerful and dependable rocket engines of the space race.engines of the space race.

SputnikSputnik

• In order to launch a satellite first, Korolev In order to launch a satellite first, Korolev removes scientific instruments and leaves only removes scientific instruments and leaves only a transmitter so that the weight is acceptable.a transmitter so that the weight is acceptable.

• October 4, 1957 - Sputnik 1, the first man-made October 4, 1957 - Sputnik 1, the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958.1958.

• November 3, 1957 - Sputnik 2, carrying the dog November 3, 1957 - Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, 1958. 1958.

Explorer IExplorer I

• January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt.radiation belt.

• March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.

Yuri Gagarin

• April 12, 1961 - Vostok 1 is launched by April 12, 1961 - Vostok 1 is launched by the U.S.S.R., carrying Cosmonaut Yuri the U.S.S.R., carrying Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gargarin, the first man in space. A. Gargarin, the first man in space.

• He orbits the Earth once.He orbits the Earth once.

• Cosmonaut literally means “Voyager of Cosmonaut literally means “Voyager of the Cosmos”the Cosmos”

Alan B. SheppardAlan B. Sheppard

• May 5, 1961 - Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. May 5, 1961 - Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. Sheppard, Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a Sheppard, Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a 15 minute suborbital flight.15 minute suborbital flight.

• The 7 original Mercury Astronauts:The 7 original Mercury Astronauts:Alan SheppardAlan SheppardVirgil I. “Gus” GrissomVirgil I. “Gus” GrissomJohn H. Glenn-1John H. Glenn-1stst American to Orbit Earth American to Orbit EarthWalter SchirraWalter SchirraScott CarpenterScott CarpenterGordon “Gordo” CooperGordon “Gordo” Cooper*Deke Slayton*Deke Slayton

• Astronaut means “Star Voyager”Astronaut means “Star Voyager”

Russia’s Manned Space Program

• VostokVostok

• VoshkodVoshkod

• SoyuzSoyuz

• SalyutSalyut

• MirMir

• ISSISS

U.S. Manned Space Program

• MercuryMercury• GeminiGemini• ApolloApollo• Apollo-SoyuzApollo-Soyuz• SkylabSkylab• Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle• ISSISS• Constellation Constellation