Rocket History

Underneath the largest rocket in the world, on May 8, starting at 11:00, were sixth graders. The entire sixth grade of South Mckeel Academy slept underneath the Saturn V rocket. Not an experience to forget. Previously, the middle schoolers had taken a brief tour of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which houses the space shuttle Atlantis. They would actually get to visit the shops and kiosks on Friday, the day after. Onto the subject of the rocket itself.

Before diving into these mythical theories proposed by those who doubt the clear evidence, a brief history of the Space Race is in order. Fueled by collective nationalism, determination, and a hefty nationally funded budget, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (modern day Russia) pioneered the space race in the late 1950’s as a major vocal point for the communist country to try and prove its superior technology, military firepower and thriving political-economic system during the Cold War flex against the United States of America. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik, any country’s, or any human for that matter, first artificial satellite into space. Less than two years later, the U.S.S.R. released Luna 2,

The space race started in 1957 when the Soviet Union sent Sputnik. 1t was the first artificial satellite. After some time the russians sent sputnik 2, it had the first living thing to go to space: the first dog called Laika. The USA after some weeks they sent the Explorer 1 1n to space, the first american rocket.

On July 20, 1969 America finally became first in the protracted space race with the Soviets. On that day for America, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin of Apollo 11 became the first humans to step foot on the moon. This of course was a massive victory alongside the Soviet Union. “ The first men to land on the moon were launched from the site of KSC (Kennedy Space Center) in 1969, and every human space flight launch in the United States since that time has taken place from the Kennedy Space Center” (Rogier). “Apollo was the NASA program that resulted in American astronauts' making an aggregate of 11 spaceflights a total of 12 astronauts having walked on the moon conducting research there

Apollo missions started around 1961 to discover what it would be like to step onto the moon. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged the nation to take astronauts into space and to land on the moon. NASA took the challenge and created the Apollo program. Neil Armstrong said as he walked on the moon. “That’s one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.”

Space race refers to the period from about 1957 to 1975, the United States and the Soviet Union to explore the field of competition in the development of satellites, manned space flight and the man on the moon and other space.

Many things could’ve changed the outcome of my rocket. The spin helped so much as it flew straight and didn’t curve left or right whatsoever. It was the longest rocket in the air out of my class and came second closest to the school. Many parts of my rocket could’ve contributed to that. For example, if I didn’t include the 1 ½ inch tilt on my fins it could of made it curve left or right and fall down quicker. Also, if I didn’t include the eraser for weight at the tip, it wouldn’t be up for nearly as long. I put a bit more water than half way but not too much were it would affect it negatively. I used just enough water so it may be forced into the air at a higher speed. The rocket was pumped with air using a bicycle pump while on two tree stumps so it flew out and not straight up. The air pressure and water had enough force to shoot out and propel the rocket forward. The outcome of my rocket came out very positively because of the risks I took and the design I used to build.

Everything that exists has history, even NASA! NASA’s history stretches as far back as 50 years (and counting), and that history has a lot to teach. NASA has history in when and why they started, in how they progressed including the mistakes they made along the way and in the first astronauts to some of the last. All of these things are important factors in the making of NASA history; and though they’re not exactly sending people to the moon anymore, what they’ve done in the past with the technology and resources they had in the 1900’s is educational and a beneficial learning experience. To begin with, NASA was first pushed towards being more urgently developed when the Soviets successfully launched Sputnik 1, which was the world’s first satellite

The Space Age emphasized the invention of a sophisticated technology, Sputnik 1, an artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union. The development of these artificial satellites led other countries such as German and the U.S. to compete with each other. V-2 rocket technology then developed by German scientists leading to a more advanced space technologies. The U.S. also invented rocket engines by Robert Goddard and Wernher von Braun that contributed to the world’s space systems still today. President John F. Kennedy of the U.S. announced Apollo 11 spacecraft as to be the first in landing a human on the moon after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 successfully carried a dog into space proving the possibility of human space travel (Fitzgerald,

On July 20, 1969, a billion people that were about 240,00 miles away at home waited to hear the following words,”That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Neil Armstrong was the first person ever to have the opportunity to walk on the moon. About 48 year later, Japanese scientists believe the moon could potentially have a cave large enough for a future lunar colony. Japanese scientists have recently discovered a crater under the moon's surface that one day can house a colony.

Anything that has evolved over time is technology. One good example we don't really notice today, is a rocket ship. The first rocket ship to launch into space successfully was the V2 missile. Germany launched this missile in nineteen forty two. It has changed so much since then. The chinese also helped with the rockets. They made gunpowder, (some say it was an accident). Their gunpowder was made from sulfur, saltpepper, and charcoal dust. The first person to use propulsion, or the act of something moving forwards was Archytas. The next invention made with similar propulsion was in A.D 10. It was called the Hero Engine. It was invented by hero of Alexandria. This was just a toy, but it is now

The U.S. space program began in a country very far from the United States. In fact, the program’s roots were seeded in Germany during WWII. A young German man by the name of Werner von Braun became obsessed with rocketry and space travel after reading numerous books by Jules Verne and Hermann Oberth. He completed a Ph.D. in physics and went to work for the German Army developing ballistic missiles. Dr. von Braun’s most notable contribution to WWII was his V-2 rocket. The V-2 was a liquid fueled rocket standing 46 feet tall and carrying a ton of explosives. It was capable of traveling to the outer reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere before returning to its target. After the end of WWII numerous countries saw the military and civilian applications of the V-2 and therefore, sought to capture the technology. While both Russia and the U.S. captured parts of the V-2, the U.S. got the most important part, Werner von Braun. Operation Paperclip was a covert operation towards the end of the war conducted by U.S. and British Special Forces with the main objective of capturing German scientists. In all, 1,600 German scientists and workers were captured and brought back to the U.S. and Great Britain. Among the captured scientists was Werner von Braun. He was brought to the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico where he worked on developing the first ballistic missile, the Redstone rocket. Eventually, Dr. von Braun would go on to lead the U.S. space program.

The Apollo missions were the project that NASA worked on. It was trying to safely get man to the moon and back. There were 17 Apollo missions. Only 6 of those missions succeeded. That is only a success rate of 35.29%. The first few flights were just testing equipment. The first manned mission was Apollo 8. All missions after 8 were manned. The missions that succeeded were 11-12 and 14-17. Many of these missions did collect photographs and data to return to earth. The first Apollo mission to land on the moon was 11. It launched July 16, 1969, landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 and returned home on July 24, 1969. A total of 12 astronauts have walked on the moon’s surface.

Robert H. Goddard, the American scientist who built the first liquid-fueled rocket—which he successfully launched on March 16, 1926—became fascinated with spaceflight after reading an 1898 newspaper serialization of H.G. Wells’ classic novel about a Martian invasion, War of the Worlds. As Goddard would recall later, the concept of interplanetary flight “gripped my imagination tremendously.”

The rocket was the first locomotive that it was the world’s first steam locomotive constructed with many components. The locomotive was constructed in 1829 by the top manufacturers located in England. George and Robert had a father and son business. Steam locomotives were nothing new even by the 1830’s. The English were the first one’s to begin building and developing in the railroad system. Locomotives were built with a single pipe within the boiler to transfer heat between the exhaust. Most of the early steamers featured vertically mounted pistons. The only cause for the locomotive is to be unstable when in operations. The credits for the Stephenson’s rocket has been charged to his father. The reason behind the locomotive is because the