Our space program actually started back with Chuck Yeager and the rest of the test pilot boys who first flew the X-1. But do you remember who really won? I remember, I was 14 back then in October of 1957 when the Soviets launched Sputnik I. How many of you remember that? Then later they made news with Mutt-Nick; the one with the dog.
OK, now that I got your memory working let's see if you can answer this question. Who was the first women in space? Do you remember? I bet you don't unless you look it up. I also bet some of you answered that it was Sally Ride. Yes, she was the first U.S. women to go aloft into space but not the first women. And no it wasn't Jacky Gleason's wife on the "Honey Mooners" TV show when he threatened his wife Alice by waving his fist and saying "to the moon".
Sally Rice went into space on June 24, 1983 but she was not the first. The Soviets beat us there, too. They put a women, Valentrina Tereshkova, into space on Vostak 6 twenty years before Sally took her ride. Now you all have a great day here on Earth, you hear?
I remember Sputnik and the race for space. What I remember about it the most was the paranoia that gripped the country during the middle of the Cold War. It took JFK to snap us out of the losing streak and attitude and set into motion the race to the Moon.
ReplyDeleteand now we have to hitch a ride to the space station on Russian rockets. Guess they win again.
ReplyDeleteGypsy, I agree with you on paranoia pushing us into space, but am glad it did. There has been a lot of very useful things ame from it. I would be lost without my GPS - pun intended.
ReplyDeleteSixbears, yep, they were the first into space and now they offer the first taxi service into space and to he space station.
Today - I will stay planted with my feet on Earth. Tomorrow, who knows?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I prefer staying right here on the ground!
ReplyDeleteA lot sure has happened to the space exploration programs in our lifetime! Just imagine what's right around the corner!
Jill, I too want to be grounded. Prefer the motor-home or the Jeep.
ReplyDeleteHJ, not sure if we are going to see a whole lot more. Especially me, don't have all that many years left. The private sector is taking some of the burdon off NASA. In fact a private craft has already docked with the space station.