Special Events In Space Exploration 1. The Chinese launch their first person in space. 2. Animals in Space 3. John Glenn Goes Up Again… 4. The Firsts
The Peoples Republic of China launched a piloted spacecraft to Earth orbit on October 15, 2003. Inside the Shenzhou 5 capsule was Yang Liwei.
Shenzhou 5 Capsule
Yang Liwei
“Taikonauts” Yuhangyuans. Men and women who fly in American spacecraft are known as astronauts, and those who fly in Russian spacecraft are cosmonauts, those who fly in Chinese spacecraft are known as "taikonauts." China’s Space Program
Animals In Space The Soviet Union (Russia) used dogs to test the reactions of living things in space before sending humans into space. The United States used APES to test space flight reactions.
Space Dogs Soviet Union Laika : Sputnik 2, November 1957
Apes in Space : U.S.A. Monkeys in Space Sam: Mercury Little Joe 2, December 1959 Chimps in Space Enos: Mercury 5, November 1961
Chimps in Space Enos in his flight coach
John Glenn, Again… SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: On February 20, 1962, age 41, John Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the U.S. STS-95 Discovery on October 29 to November 7, 1998 (Space Shuttle Mission) age : 77
Space Firsts First Person in space : Yuri Gargarin, Soviet Union, 1961 First American : Alan B. Shepherd, 1961 First Woman : Valentia Tereshkova, Soviet, 1963.
Space Firsts First U.S. Space Walk : Ed White, 1965. First Person on the Moon : Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, July 20, 1969.
Apollo 11 : the Moon
Apollo 11: The Moon
Space Firsts Continued… First Space Shuttle : STS-1 Columbia, 1981. First U.S. Woman : Dr.Sally Ride, 1983.
Space Firsts Continued… First African American : Guy Bluford, 1983. First German : Ulf Merbold, 1983.