For thousands of years, humans have curiously gazed at the night sky and dreamt of travelling to space and explore the distant heavenly bodies there. But, that long cherished dream became a reality only after they developed large rockets capable of carrying satellites and humans to space. Now, let us understand the term ’space'. When we talk of space research or spaceflight today, the word 'space' refers to the region which is outside the Earth's atmosphere. Today, many scientists agree that space begins at an altitude of about 100 km from the Earth's surface. Thus, all heavenly bodies including the Sun, Moon, planets, stars and galaxies, are in space. Artificial satellites revolve round the Earth in space.






From the late 1950’s , efforts were made to develop rockets which were powerful enough to make satellites, robotic spacecraft or spacecraft carrying humans to either to circle the earth or proceed towards other worlds of our solar system. On October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Four years later on April 12, 1961, Russian Lt. Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in Vostok 1. On July 20, 1969, NASA created history by sending Astronaut Neil Armstrong to the moon. Six Apollo missions were made to explore the moon between 1969 and 1972. Today unmanned missions has reached almost every planets in our Solar System. The world is now preparing to send humans to Mars. We also have a permanent Space station, The International Space Stations where humans permanatly stationed at space through out the year.

Besides satisfying the human urge to explore space, devices launched into space by humans have made our lives here on earth easier and safer. Thus, benefits offered by space exploration are truly revolutionary. Today space technology benefits almost every one directly or indirectly. The world is better connected today because of advanced satellite communication systems. We are better prepared to natural disasters like Tsunami,Hurricanes because of weather prediction from advanced space Imaging technologies. Our farmers are benefitted from weather prediction and mapping of resources. Experiments conducted in space results in advancing research in the fields of engineering, technology, medicine, and many more .More important, human space exploration symbolizes our passion, excitement, commitment and courage and motivates billions across the world.