The story of our exploration of space is a short one, beginning in October 1957 when Russia launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite. However, the rocket used to launch artificial satellites has a far longer pedigree. Its origins can be traced back about ten centuries to the discovery of gunpowder in the Far East.
 

Since 1957 we have witnessed many spectacular feats of space exploration. Twelve men have walked on the moon and brought back 379 kilograms of moon rock for scientists on earth to study. Unmanned space probes have landed on the surface of the nearest planets, Mars and Venus, and sent back pictures of the local scenery.

We are already living in the Space Age, yet we have only just begun to leave the surface of our planet. Soon permanently inhabited laboratories will be able to orbit the earth and man will land on the surface of Mars early next century.
 

ROCKET FUNCTIONS

Rockets can only orbit the earth by accelerating its payload to a speed of 8.04 kilometre per second. If it does not reach this speed it will fall back to earth.

Once the rocket reaches 11.2 kilometres per second it will escape earth and its gravitational pull. This speed is called the escape velocity.

There are many different types of rocket - V2 Rockets, Booster Rockets, Scout rockets. In the Science Museum’s gallery about the exploration of space there are models and even the actual rockets on display.

The origins of rocket technology lie in the Eastern world, where it was known how to make fireworks. By 1300 rockets were known both in Arabia and Europe, though commonly used as a firework, India’s army in the 16th century used rockets in battle.