1. Manned Space Programs

2. First man in space – Yuri Gagarin (from Russia) in 1961
First American in space – Alan Shepard
Spacecraft = Freedom 7
First Chinese in space – Yang Liwei
First American to orbit earth – John Glenn
First time in space

3. Man walked in space for the first time during Project Gemini
Purpose: to use a 2-man space vehicle to develop basic technology and procedures needed to go to the moon and back in the follow-up Apollo project
Procedures: docking, extravehicular activity, monitoring of human responses to weightlessness

4. During Project Apollo, men walked on the moon for the first time
Including Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin
Activities: set up experiments, collected samples, left memorials for members of Apollo 1 who perished in a fire
Command and service modules remained in orbit, but lunar module descended to the moon’s surface
apollo

5. Meanwhile, Soviets (Russians) were working to establish a space station in Earth orbit
The usefulness of space station “Mir” ended as a result of its age, failing equipment, and lack of funds to properly maintain it
In comparison to other space stations, the International Space Station (ISS) is larger, more modern, and is built and used by a partnership of nations
Used for long-term space missions
Space stations

6. Space shuttle “Challenger” was lost (because of a booster/external fuel tank malfunction) in 1986.
7 crew members
Space shuttle “Columbia” disintegrated (due to insulating foam striking the wing, damaging the heat shielding which failed upon reentry) in 2003.
Tragedies

7. Problems Problems that resulted from the shuttle fleet being grounded:
Delay in construction and resupply of the ISS
Heavy satellite launches were delayed or scrapped
Delay of Hubble Space Telescope services
Problems

8. Private companies are working to begin tourist and commercial ventures in space.
Advantages to everyday life in the U.S. =
Flame-retardant materials
Computer technology
Energy technology,
Plastics, ceramics, metals
Communication improvements
Reasons for exploration…
Wrong: trying to find life to support evolution
Right: to glorify God by discovering more about His creation
The future