1. Space Exploration Unit Spaceflight Timeline

2. Chinese Invention of Fireworks and Gunpowder Gunpowder and Fireworks invented in China 2 century BCE.Gunpowder and Fireworks invented in China 2 century BCE. Gunpowder, a mixture composing of: 75% Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), 15% Charcoal (Carbon), and 10% Sulfur, provides the thrust for most fireworks.Gunpowder, a mixture composing of: 75% Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), 15% Charcoal (Carbon), and 10% Sulfur, provides the thrust for most fireworks.

3. Robert Goddard-American Physicist Invented the liquid fuel rocketInvented the liquid fuel rocket “Nell” Flew on March 16th, 1926“Nell” Flew on March 16th, 1926 “Father of Modern Rocketry”“Father of Modern Rocketry” Solid fuel: must have air to combust. Once started, must burn outSolid fuel: must have air to combust. Once started, must burn out Liquid fuel: some fuels can react with no air. Engines can be shut down and restarted.Liquid fuel: some fuels can react with no air. Engines can be shut down and restarted.

4. WWII Germany and the V-2 German scientists led by Herman Oberth and Werner Von Braun picked Goddard’s brain to develop their own rockets capable of space travel.German scientists led by Herman Oberth and Werner Von Braun picked Goddard’s brain to develop their own rockets capable of space travel. They were to first to use Jet rockets.They were to first to use Jet rockets. Hitler forced this research group to develop a missile that could carry a warhead to Britain.Hitler forced this research group to develop a missile that could carry a warhead to Britain. 1,100 V-2 rockets would impact England in World War II.1,100 V-2 rockets would impact England in World War II.

5. WWII: V-2 Launch

6. Breaking the Sound Barrier Shortly after the war, the U.S. leads the way in developing high performance aircraft.Shortly after the war, the U.S. leads the way in developing high performance aircraft. Pilots and Engineers notice terrible turbulence as planes approach 760 miles per hour-the speed of sound when most crashed due to lack of stability.Pilots and Engineers notice terrible turbulence as planes approach 760 miles per hour-the speed of sound when most crashed due to lack of stability. Bell laboratories develops the first aircraft, technically a rocket plane” capable of breaking the sound barrier.Bell laboratories develops the first aircraft, technically a rocket plane” capable of breaking the sound barrier. October 14 th, 1947 test pilot, Chuck Yeager, becomes the first person to exceed the sound barrier in the Bell X-1October 14 th, 1947 test pilot, Chuck Yeager, becomes the first person to exceed the sound barrier in the Bell X-1

7. Bell X-1

8. Sputnik 1. Russian rocket engineer Sergei Korolev heads the post war spaceflight efforts. 2.October 4, 1957 - Sputnik 1, the first man- made object to orbit the Earth, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until January 4, 1958. 3.November 3, 1957 - Sputnik 2, carrying the dog Laika for 7 days in orbit, is launched by the U.S.S.R., and remains in orbit until April 13, 1958.

9. Explorer I January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt.January 31, 1958 - Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit, lifts off at Cape Canaveral using a modified ABMA-JPL Jupiter-C rocket. It carries a scientific experiment of James A. Van Allen, and discovers the Earth's radiation belt. March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.March 5, 1958 - Explorer 2 is launched by a Jupiter-C rocket, and fails to reach orbit.

10. Yuri Gagarin April 12, 1961 - Vostok 1 is launched by the Russians, carrying Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gargarin, the first man in space.April 12, 1961 - Vostok 1 is launched by the Russians, carrying Cosmonaut Yuri A. Gargarin, the first man in space. He orbits the Earth once.He orbits the Earth once. Cosmonaut literally means “Voyager of the Cosmos”Cosmonaut literally means “Voyager of the Cosmos”

11. Alan B. Sheppard May 5, 1961 - Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. Sheppard, Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a 15 minute suborbital flight.May 5, 1961 - Mercury Freedom 7 carries Alan B. Sheppard, Jr., the first U.S. Astronaut into space, in a 15 minute suborbital flight. The 7 original Mercury Astronauts:The 7 original Mercury Astronauts: Alan Sheppard Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom John H. Glenn-1 st American to Orbit Earth Walter Schirra Scott Carpenter Gordon “Gordo” Cooper *Deke Slayton Astronaut means “Star Voyager”Astronaut means “Star Voyager”

12. Russia’s Manned Space Program VostokVostok VoshkodVoshkod SoyuzSoyuz SalyutSalyut MirMir ISSISS

13. U.S. Manned Space Program MercuryMercury GeminiGemini ApolloApollo Apollo-SoyuzApollo-Soyuz SkylabSkylab Space ShuttleSpace Shuttle ISSISS ConstellationConstellation