Sweet Sputnik

Space travel turns 50 this month. Kicked off by the Russians with Sputnik I, the space race that ensued between USA and USSR has left us humans a legacy of Apollo Missions, the MIR and its successor the International Space Station (ISS). The old debate on whether space exploration is worth the hefty price tag when then money could be spent on helping the needy and underprivileged continues. There have , of course, been errors. However, space exploration creates real benefits and not just physical ones like satellite communication, weather forecast and nano-technology. What about the intangible sense of pride, the stirring of spirits? How about the innovations that came about and inspiring of young minds? Surely the farther mankind reaches into space, the more we will cherish Earth and try to make it a better place.

Some interesting facts:

Mercury - 1 Mission : 1 successful
+1 en route
+1 planned

Venus - 40 Missions : 26 successful
+1 planned

Moon - 80 Missions : 45 successful
+4 planned

Mars - 38 Missions : 18 successful
` +1 en route
+4 planned

Asteroids - 4 Missions : 4 successful
+1 planned

Jupiter - 8 Missions : 8 successful
+1 planned

Saturn - 4 Missions : 4 successful

Uranus - 1 Mission : 1 successful

Neptune - 1 Mission : 1 successful

Pluto (currently no longer a planet) - 0 Mission
+1 en route

Comets - 10 Missions : 9 successful
+1 en route

The furthest humans have gone to date is our Moon, though aspirations to send a manned mission to Mars still appear to be on the cards. Will we set up a colony there one day? Do we dare? Look at our Earth, ravaged by us in the relatively short time humans rose to be the dominant species. We must explore though, for that is how we as a species have always made new discoveries and achieved major advancements materialistically and spiritually.

To the heavens and beyond.