United States:
Launch of First Satellite: February 1, 1958*
Launch of First Man into Space: Februrary 20, 1962*
Launch to put First Man on the moon: July 16, 1969*
Launch of First Space Station: May 14, 1973*
Russia:
Launch of First Satellite: October 4, 1957*
Launch of First Man into Space: April 12, 1961*
Launch of First Space Station: April 19, 1971*
The benefits that the space program has yielded to humanity on the ground is huge. And the space program grew at such a rate because of two reasons. Firstly, you had a cold war going on. Secondly, Kennedy’s dream to put a man on the moon electrified the population. The entire generation was inspired to take up science and math at school. It was because of his dream that so much has been achieved in science and technology…
Snippets from JFK’s speech*
“To be sure, all this costs us all a good deal of money. This year¹s space budget is three times what it was in January 1961, and it is greater than the space budget of the previous eight years combined. That budget now stands at $5,400 million a year–a staggering sum, though somewhat less than we pay for cigarettes and cigars every year. Space expenditures will soon rise some more, from 40 cents per person per week to more than 50 cents a week for every man, woman and child in the United Stated, for we have given this program a high national priority–even though I realize that this is in some measure an act of faith and vision, for we do not now know what benefits await us.”
“However, I think we’re going to do it, and I think that we must pay what needs to be paid. I don’t think we ought to waste any money, but I think we ought to do the job. And this will be done in the decade of the sixties. It may be done while some of you are still here at school at this college and university. It will be done during the term of office of some of the people who sit here on this platform. But it will be done. And it will be done before the end of this decade.“
“Many years ago the great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said, ‘Because it is there.’ Well, space is there, and we’re going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God’s blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked. “
India:
Launch of the First Satellite (on a foreign rocket): April 19, 1975*
Launch of the First Satellite (on an indigenious rocket): July 18, 1980*
Launch of the First Moon Probe: April 2008 (planned)*
Launch of the First Indian into Space (on an indigenious rocket): ??
Launch of the First Interplanetary Probe: ??
First Indian Contribution to the International Space Station: ??
We need a dream - and need it quick too!
