50 Years Ago, The Space Age Dawned...

[Babbler]

BBC NEWS
Russia marks 50 years of Sputnik
By Richard Galpin
BBC News, Moscow

Sputnik's launch began the superpower space race
Sputnik's launch
Russia is holding a series of ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the space age.

In 1957 the first man-made satellite, Sputnik, was launched by what was then the Soviet Union.

The launch is considered one of the most significant moments in history and began the space race with the US, which eventually sent men to the Moon.

After years of decline the Russians are now back in the space game with highly ambitious plans.

'Expanding habitat'

The launch of Sputnik was a giant leap for mankind and a propaganda coup for the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War.

As people around the world stared up in awe at the night sky to catch a glimpse of the tiny satellite, there was a realisation that something very fundamental had changed.

"The launch of Sputnik was at least as significant for mankind as the discovery of America for Columbus," said Yuri Karash, an expert on the Russian space programme.

"By launching Sputnik people started expanding their habitat beyond Earth."

After Sputnik there was a string of successes in space for the Soviet Union, driven by the intense rivalry with the United States.

These included sending the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, and carrying out the first spacewalk.

Now, after a long period of decline in the Russian space programme, the country's scientists and cosmonauts have finally secured a significant budget from the government.

They have been given $12bn (£6bn) to spend over the next decade - a small amount compared with Nasa's budget but enough for the Russians to have ambitious plans.

These include sending a manned mission to Mars. One expert told the BBC this could happen by the year 2020.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7027199.stm

Published: 2007/10/04 01:05:49 GMT

© BBC MMVII

Comment and thoughts? How have we done? Where should we go now? What will the future hold for humanity in space?

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

NASA has wasted a ton of money on the International Space Station, which hasn't been good for much, our orbiting satelites are deteriorating in structure, and we still are too far away from having a permanet base on the moon. NASA has always been an area of great promise to me, but I think it needs to refocus it's mission, which obviously needs to be done in part with the government.

 

[Tee Kay]

To the pioneers on both sides of the Iron Curtain, I salute you.

 

[Japanrocks12]

To the pioneers on both sides of the Iron Curtain, I salute you.

amen. this sounds well for all of humanity

 

[brennan]

Just be patient. Space industry isn;t commercially viable yet. When the necessary technology becomes cheap enough, things will um, take off. *apologies for the pun*

 

[El_Machinae]

We need more commerical and consumer support.

There's a contest coming up, pretty soon, for the Space Elevator competition. If people were aware of the results and if the teams had a fanbase, then sponsorship could pick up (and money = progress!).

Sporting events are responsible for all types of performance breakthroughs: from the 4 minute mile to the skads of technology from racing events. Why? Sponsorship.

Anyway, check out the link in my sig. University of Saskatchewan did really well on the climbing event last year, and there's probably more competition this year. IMO, the tether event is the most important, but it's hard to generate excitement about something like that

 

[Masquerouge]

... and 30 years ago, the space age twilighted

 

[philippe]

1957, Spoetnik,
the earth was blue but there was no god...

 

[El_Machinae]

I don't really believe so, unless we're now in the Dawn again. We're living in an age whether wealthy individuals can afford to tourist in space. That's awesome.

 

[Keshik]

I think we need to get our priorities straight. All this technology, yet the toilets we use still have virtually the same design as they did 100 years ago.

 

[ValentinianIII]

I was promised flying cars by 2000.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

I was promised flying cars by 2000.

They're called private jets.

 

[Leonel]

They're called private jets.

... um oh yeah?! What about household robots? Where are they, huh?

 

[El_Machinae]

I was promised flying cars by 2000.

In 2007, you can get a flying car for around $90,000. Not so bad!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20535980/

Moller International’s first product, the two-seat M200G, is a scaled-down version of Moller's dream. The specs: It hovers about 10 feet off the ground, cruises at 50 mph (80 kilometers per hour) — and looks like a flying saucer. The company compares it to the space car in “The Jetsons,” a futuristic cartoon from the 1960s. And it carries a price tag of $90,000.

 

[Yuri2356]

In honour of the ending of this glorious aniversary, (On my slice of Earth, at least) let us all recite the historic first words of this patriotic mechanism, spawned from the people's tireless labours -



*beep*


*beep*


*beep*





May its legacy forever carry the revolution to the stars.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

How long did Sputnik last before they shut her down?

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

... um oh yeah?! What about household robots? Where are they, huh?

Wives.

...

 

[cubsfan6506]

Their pretty faulty though.

 

[Tee Kay]

How long did Sputnik last before they shut her down?

Three months IIRC. Pretty good rates for a simple radio transmitter in a metal globe.

 

[R.B.]

Heres to hoping the aliens we might meet are all humanoid.