The latest space explorations

Introduction :

Human Space Exploration

Humanity's interest in the heavens has been universal and enduring. Humans are driven to
explore the unknown, discover new worlds, push the boundaries of our scientific and
technical limits, and then push further. The intangible desire to explore and challenge the
boundaries of what we know and where we have been has provided benefits to our worldfor
centuries.

Human space exploration helps to address fundamental questions about our place in the
Universe and the history of our solar system. Through addressing the challenges related to
human space exploration it helped to expand technology, create new industries, and to foster
a peaceful connection with other nations.

The Beginning of Space Exploration

For centuries, scientists had been looking at the prospects of traveling into outer space. In the
1940s, experimental rocket launches into outer space were carried out time after time, but
none could reach the desired altitudes. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union sent the first
unmanned mission into space. They launched a satellite called Sputnik 1, which successfully
remained in outer space for 3 months. On November 3, 1957, they subsequently launched
another satellite known as the Sputnik 2, which carried a dog into orbit for 7 days. The
Americans were envious of the success of the Russians, and the fact that there was a cold war
between the two countries did not make things better. This led to the beginning of the “space
race” wich brought about a massive revolution in space exploration as each country tried to
out-pace the other in the advancement of outer space technology and achievements. After the
Soviet Union launched two successive satellites, the Americans were not to be outdone, and
they launched their first successful satellite Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958. They followed
this with the launch of Explorer 2 on March 5, 1958, which failed to reach orbit

Why Mars?

Mars has always been a source of inspiration for explorers and scientists. Robotic missions
have found evidence of water, but if life exists beyond Earth still remains a mystery. Robotic
and scientific robotic missions have shown that Mars has characteristics and a history similar
to Earth's.

A mission to our nearest planetary neighbor provides the best opportunity to demonstrate
that humans can live for extended, even permanent, stays beyond low Earth orbit. lasting
benefits and applications.

The challenge of traveling to Mars and learning how to live there will encourage nations
around the world to work together to achieve such an ambitious undertaking. The
International Space station has shown that opportunities for collaboration will highlight our
common interests and provide a global sense of community.
China is planning to land a lunar probe on the far side of the moon, state media reported,
the latest step for Beijing's ambitious space programme.

The mission will be launched before 2020 and aims to land a probe on a part of the
moon never visible from earth, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing officials
at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The far side of the moon has been seen by previous probes, but no country has
attempted a landing.

That made China the third nation after the US and Soviet Union to land on the Earth's
only natural satellite.

Chang'e is the name of the moon goddess in Chinese mythology and Yutu is her pet
rabbit.

NASA finds 'Earth's bigger, older cousin'

Kepler is the first nearly Earth-size planet to be found by NASA in the habitable zone of
a star similar to our own.
Though NASA can't say for sure whether the planet is rocky like ours or has water and
air, it's the closest match yet found.
"Today, Earth is a little less lonely,"
A visitor there would experience gravity about twice that of Earth's, and planetary
scientists say the odds of it having a rocky surface are "better than even."
While it's a bit farther from its star than Earth is from the sun, its star is brighter, And
that sunlight would be very similar to Earth's, .

Conclusion :

Not all space missions have been successful though. There were several tragedies
involving space missions, and some of them had fatal results. On January 27, 1967, the
Apollo 1, which was also known as Apollo/Saturn 204, caught fire during its simulation
launch, killing all crew members.

Russia’s attempt to land on the moon ended in tragedy too when the Soyuz 1
encountered technical problems soon after its launch. The sole crew member perished
as he could not repair the fault

Whatever this never stop the scientists to research and discover the solar system and
the possibility of lifefar far away from earth.