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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

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Comprehension Quiz

Teacher's Guide and Worksheets

To The Moon...And Beyond!

Spanish Translation

On October 4, 1957, the former Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite made by humans, into space. The satellite circled the Earth for three months.

The Sputnik launch began the space age, a time when humans began to explore space. In just 50 years, there have been many accomplishments. In 1969, two Americans became the first people to walk on the moon. But no one has been back to the moon since 1972.

Next Stop, the Moon

In 2006, NASA said it plans to return humans to the moon by 2020. This time, NASA will build an outpost, or base, on the moon's surface. In the future, astronauts will prepare at this lunar outpost for voyages to Mars and beyond.

A World in Space

Recently, more countries have entered the space race. In 2003, China became the third nation to send a human into space. India hopes to have astronauts there by 2014.

Astronauts are not the only ones in the space race. One company promises 20 million dollars to any person or team that can land and operate a spacecraft on the moon by 2012. "We hope to ignite the imagination of children around the world," said one of the company's top bosses. That's you he is talking about. After all, the future in space is yours. Are you ready to lift off?

Highlights of Space Exploration

1957 The space age begins with the launch of Sputnik, the first man-made satellite.

1969 Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become the first people to walk on the moon.

1981 The U.S. space shuttle Columbia is launched. It is the first reusable manned spacecraft.

1990 Hubble, the world's first space telescope, is placed in orbit by the U.S. shuttle Discovery.

2004 The Spirit and Opportunity rovers land on Mars. The American craft send back the clearest pictures yet of the planet's surface.

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