On April 12, 1961, the Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin became the first person in the world history who made a flight into outer space. The flight purpose was to check the possibility of man’s stay in space, the ship equipment in flight and the connection with the Earth, make sure that the means of landing are reliable. After 108 minutes of flight, Gagarin successfully landed in the Saratov region.
Belka and Strelka.
Belka and Strelka.
The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik-5, launched on August 19, 1960, carried dogs Belka and Strelka and put them into orbit. The flight main purpose was to study the effects of the body overload and prolonged weightlessness on animals. The device with the surviving animals successfully returned to earth the next day. It was the first spaceflight to send animals into orbit and return them safely back to Earth.
The Moon first photographs.
On October 7, 1959, the USSR launched the AIS Luna-3, which had a system of photo-telemetric orientation relatively to the Sun and the Moon, as well as radio, photo-television systems, a thermal control system and a scientific equipment complex. During the flight, photos of far side of the Moon were first taken. Also the gravity assist was used for the first time.
Flight to the moon.
On September 14, 1959, the Soviet automatic interplanetary station (AIS) Luna-2 reached the surface of the moon. The station was an unpowered vehicle, it literally crashed into the moon at a speed of 3.3 km/s and scattered into parts. One of the main mission scientific achievements was the direct measurement of the solar wind. Also the second cosmic velocity was exceeded for the first time.
The first animal in Earth orbit.
On November 3, 1957 USSR launched Sputnik 2 carrying a living animal - a dog named Laika. This event was a great achievement, but, no matter how sad it was, the Laika's return to the Earth was impossible and unprogrammed at that time - there was no thermal control system.The dog died from overheating. The satellite itself performed 2370 turns around the Earth.
The first artificial satellite of the Earth.
On October 4, 1957, the USSR launched the world's first artificial Earth satellite into the orbit. The USSR considered it necessary to be ahead of the Americans. Therefore, instead of a complex scientific satellite, which was originally planned, a small “Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1” was urgently created.
This event was the beginning of the space race. The satellite was of great political importance. The whole world saw its flight, its emitted signal could be heard by every radio amateur anywhere. The first satellite launch badly hurt the US prestige. When the Soviet satellite quite suddenly sent a signal to the whole world, it became clear that the USSR had become the first in space.
Space Takeover will be available soon!
Friends, we have good news! Our new app Space Takeover will be available soon. In the course of a major race for space exploration, the USSR and the USA became the first and main space powers which are capable of launching satellites into orbit with their launch vehicles. This marked the beginning of irreconcilable rivalry between the two countries. Choose which side you will be on and start developing your own space program. The future is yours!
We hope you appreciate our space strategy. We will wait for your feedback!
