People have dreamed of traveling in space for thousand of years. But it was not until 1957 that it became a reality.
On October 4, 1957 Russia launched the first man-made into space. It was called Sputnik 1.
On April 12, 1961 the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth.
The first space woman in the world was Valentina Tershkova. She made 48 orbits in 1963 in her Vostok 6.
On July 20, 1969 the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the Moon.
In 1986 the Russian space station Mir was launched.
Progress is inevitable and soon we’ll be able to visit and even live on other planets. The 21st century may turn science fiction into science fact.
Scientist are already at work on the International Space Station, “a city of space”. It will be the size of a football field and will weigh over 200 tons. A team of 10-15 space man will probably be able to live and work at International Space Station in 2005.