Space technology advances through competitions.

A latest survey reveals the fact that around 2218 artificial satellites are now moving on  orbits causing huge traffic in space. Soviet Union was first sending Sputnik 1 on October 04, 1957 which stirred US to be in the race to have control on space. It was obvious to be in the race to demonstrate strength and control for the Cold War between the two. US went parallelly though was second by sending their first artificial satellite Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958. The two dates proves that their space technology started and advanced quite ahead of 1957. With these events, the two superpowers started their competitions for space. Over the time satellites become essential for multi-purpose applications for a nation. Other countries like UK, France, German, China, Japan and India prominently started sending military and non-military satellites.  China sent their first satellite on April 24, 1970 and India on April 19, 1975. Right now, number of satellites-owned countries are many but mutli-dimensional satellites are sent mainly by US, Russia, China and India.

 

Sputnik 1

Competition was not limited within satellites rather it got further moves. Expedition to moon came to the context when space technology progressed forward. Soviet Union landed on the surface of the moon on September 13, 1959. Luna 2 successfully landed on the moon which woke up the world but it was not a crewed mission. US became first sending their human mission to the moon on July 20, 1969.  Apollo 11 brought Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon and their peer, Michael Collins who remained on lunar orbit.  This success superseded Soviet’s mission and woke up the world to a greater extend.

 Explorer 1 

Sending astronauts becomes a need to research about space. Modern science demands to go in depth to explore the vast unknown space before mankind. In recent time Stephen Hawking longed for going to space. On April 26, 2007, he flew abroad a specially modified Boeing operated by Zero Gravity Corp to experience the weightlessness. In this phase US sent crewed Mercury – Atlas rocket on orbit on February 20. 1962 and Soviet following the path did the same on June 16, 1963. A thirst to know about planets, galaxies, stars and solar system evolves in the scientists of the advanced world. US, EU, Russia and China started sending missions to Mars. Many of those could not achieve success. Success and failure become immaterial as every county succeeded after being failed in many missions. Existence of a space station becomes a need to manage huge traffic on space. Soviet Union became pioneer sending unmanned, Salyut, followed by a crewed space station on the orbit. US sent Skylab in 1973 and China sent Tiangong 1 in 2011 on orbits. These could not support their purposes. So a need of a large space station emerges as essential. International Space Station (ISS) was the result of collective effort of US, Canada, EU, Russia and Japan. It was placed on November 20, 1998. Now China is planning to place a large space station on low orbit like ISS.

Satellites are manufactured with expiry dates. Scientists started thinking how these satellites can be brought down to earth. A special type of missile was conducted from earth successfully to destroy those in space by US and Russia. China in 2007 and India in 2019 successfully tested their missiles and became third and fourth in the world.

 

BeiDou

Global Positioning System (GPS) is used worldwide for military and non-military purposes. This is generated by the global navigation satellite system launched by US on orbit. GLONASS is generated by Russia covering the world from their 24 satellites. BeiDou is the system from 34 satellites generated by China and with their 35th global navigation satellite system launched yesterday, BeiDou is now able to cover the whole world like GPS and GLONASS.  Now a new race started among US, Russia and China to form a skilled space regiment. Advance of modern science sometimes creates unhealthy competitions. We desire to have peaceful use technology to explore the space for our welfare.