What’s in it for me? Leave Earth and explore the history of early space exploration.
Space: the final frontier. At least it was, until humankind leaped into the unknown and began exploring it in the 1950s and 60s. Sojourns away from our home planet were the last piece in a puzzle millions of years in the making and represented humankind’s complete mastery over nature and its destiny. But during those crucial decades, nothing was predetermined. No one knew whether space travel was even possible; spaceflight technology was in its infancy and there were thousands of issues to resolve. Thankfully, there was no shortage of curious experts, or serious funding. With the Cold War raging, the US and USSR were determined to outdo each other in space firsts. From early on, the Holy Grail for both superpowers was to put a person on the moon – but in the late 1950s this was little more than a pipe dream. And yet, through ambition, determination and a fair share of luck, this dream would become a reality in just ten years for the US. In these readims, you’ll learn how long it takes to get to the moon; which was the most powerful rocket ever produced; and which astronauts died in a tragic accident.
