The start of space exploration essay example

Introduction

Mankind has made significant discoveries throughout history; some had dramatic changes, which can still be perceived in today’s modern times. However, some historical accounts made not only a significant contribution to the development of human civilization, but also extended the boundaries of mankind’s frontier. The two significant events in history described herewith is the Soviet Union’s launching of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 and the United State’s mission to send the first man on the moon on July 20, 1969. Both events made a mark on human history that will last forever. Both events opened the avenue for today’s technological progress, which is also the profound cause of the monumental change in perception on human’s boundaries of exploration. Even though, the launching of Sputnik and the Man to the Moon mission shares striking similarities, they also have obvious differences on ever level.

Similarity A

Sputnik 1 and Man to the Moon mission is synonymously an early effort to explore beyond the skies known to man’s naked eye. Both of the events marked the beginning of the space age as the succeeding events pertaining to space exploration have changed dramatically including the technology that takes mankind further into the deep space. In addition, the technology used for the said events have also improved weaponry and military technology. For instance, propulsion experiments conducted to find a stable force to lift a space shuttle also enabled scientists and engineers to discover that the force created by an atomic explosion can lift a space shuttle faster than the lift-force created by fuel powered propulsion. On the other hand, Sputnik 1 also enabled a great technological evolution as satellite transmission was discovered by sending radio signals to Sputnik 1 and send it back in no time.

Similarity B

The Man on the Moon mission and Sputnik 1 share the same initiative and that is the significance of finding new frontiers for humankind. For example, catastrophic space events and historical accounts revealed predictions of the end of the world. However, discoveries of the frontiers and possibilities of another earth-like planets have provided us with substantial hope for survival in case the said predictions did ever come to pass. Since both events are geared towards space exploration, Sputnik 1 and Man to the Moon mission indeed has an important relationship. Sputnik 1 was initiated with an objective to be the first man-made satellite to orbit earth. The underlying importance of such objective is to map the earth’s surface and collect information about the cycles of the solar activity. On November 3rd of the same year, Sputnik II was launched carrying the first dog in space named Laika. The succession of events following Sputnik 1 is related to the United State’s space mission as the Sputnik missions have proven that a living organism such as a dog can travel to the outer space. This led to the idea that man could also share the same experience with Laika, thus Apollo 11 was launched in 1969 carrying a three-men crew including the famed first man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong.

Differences A

Despite the striking resemblance of the two very historical events, they still have several differences. For one, the kind of work initiated for the said events are different from one another. Sergei P. Korolëv headed the Sputnik 1 project from the design bureau of Soviet Union’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and Sputnik. Given that information, it is apparent that the Sputnik project was initiated by the Soviet Union and was launched at Smithsonian Institution. On the other hand, the United States was alarmed by the event because of the notion that their Cold War rival appears to be more technologically superior to them. As a result, the United States responded through IGY (International Geophysical Year) in launching its own satellite named Explorer 1. Soon after, the United States surpassed the Soviet’s glory by sending a man on the moon on 1969 through the Space Act enacted to create NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Agency).

Differences B

Another obvious difference between the two events is the year the two missions were initiated. Sputnik 1 was launched in 1958, but the Man to the Moon mission was conceived nine years later. The primary response effort created by the Untied States in relation to the space exploration efforts made by the Soviet Union is to create similar man-made satellites and both countries are racing to come up with a better technology every time. However, it was the United States that made it farther into space because even though the USSR was officially the first country to send the first man in space. The Soviet’s Yuri Gagarin had a mission to be the first man to orbit the earth while the United States made Neil Armstrong to be the first man on the moon. It is apparent that the two countries are battling for space supremacy, but Soviet Union and the United States has very different forms of government. The USSR is a communist country at the time of Sputnik launch, while the United States is already following the theoretical principles of a Federal form of government during the time of Apollo 11 mission. The difference in the type of government between two nations explains the manner of conceiving the two projects. Sputnik 1 was born out of a military-based operation to develop ballistic missiles, while Apollo 11 mission was created through NASA, which is a result of a Federal Act.

Conclusion

Humankind has stretched the far limits of his capabilities by putting a footprint on the moon. However, before mankind took the great leap, prior innovations in space technology has started the great space age and mankind had his presence made known to as far as it could get in the outer space. The important event in history such as Sputnik 1 and the Man to the Moon mission (Apollo 11) created a legacy that even simple citizens are actually enjoying up to this day. Telecommunications, navigation and warfare were all inspired by the said events in history. Even if Sputnik 1 and Apollo 11 had several differences in time intervals, actions and all other factors, the same initiative remains the same in both historic event and that is to bring mankind into the height of progress.