| The idea of Space Search is vitally important, for | | | | begin an age of space search. The Americans had |
| space search has fascinated humans for as long as | | | | Alan Shepherd waiting in the wings to blast off into |
| there has been understanding about outer space. | | | | outer space and had little or for more details visit to |
| For many years humans believed the earth was flat | | | | no idea that the Russians were ready with Gagarin. |
| and if they went too far to the edge they would fall | | | | Shepherd became the second man into space and to |
| off. But even with this dangerous idea, a space | | | | start a space search just a few weeks later, when |
| search was never far from the minds of those more | | | | he was shot up for about 15 minutes. |
| adventurous types. | | | | Since then space search has been a constant battle |
| Grecian and Aztec explorers used to describe the | | | | between the two countries with the astronauts of |
| earth as a flat surface and it was Eratosthenes, a | | | | the USA and cosmonauts of Russia striving to |
| Greek mathematician who calculated the Earth's | | | | explore more, to find more and to know more about |
| diameter by a simple technique of using the shadows | | | | space. |
| cast by the sun. But people were intrigued as to | | | | Space searches have hot some major setbacks in |
| what lay beyond the earth and desperately wanted | | | | recent years, most notably with the Challenger in |
| to find ways to go into space, search for other | | | | 1986, which was destroyed just a couple of minutes |
| planets, and possibly even other forms of life. | | | | into its flight, and, more recently, with the Columbia in |
| For thousands of years the questions of space | | | | 2003 which broke up on re-entry to the earth's |
| search continued to dominate all who were | | | | atmosphere, killing all on board. Space flights did not |
| fascinated by what else was contained in the | | | | resume until 2005, with careful attention being paid to |
| universe. Astrologers and astronomers tried to | | | | them around the world. |
| answer questions, but, for the most part, space | | | | The International Space Station remains in use, with a |
| search remained a big, black hole until the 20th | | | | skeleton staff on board. |
| century. It was in the 20th century that astronomers | | | | Until man has conquered every corner of the known |
| and scientists begin to look scientifically at what was | | | | universe, which would appear to be an unlikely feat, it |
| out there, for more details visit to and at the | | | | seems humans will always be obsessed with space |
| possibility of a space search expedition. And, in April | | | | search. It is the fear of the unknown as well as the |
| 1961, Yuri Gagarin did what so many others had | | | | possibility of discovering other life which draws us |
| wanted to do before him, and became the first man | | | | ever closer. Right now, Richard Branson is preparing |
| into space. | | | | to take the first space tourism flights into the |
| Gagarin's triumph was the culmination of a battle | | | | atmosphere, and it is unclear where the fascination |
| between the USA and Russia - each country wanted | | | | will stop. |
| to be the first to put a man into space and thus | | | | |