The History of Space

Written by Seohyun Park

Have you ever wondered what would be beyond the universe? Not including any star or planet we know, somewhere no one’s ever seen. Research conveys that there are replicated planets, black holes so immense anything could be sucked inside, and diamond rain on Neptune. There will be even more things for humans to discover in the future, with the curiosity we possess.  

The past & development of exploration

13.8 billion years ago, it was the rapid and violent expansion of space, otherwise known as the Big Bang. The start of all living beings, the first ever organism. This was what created space, time and matter, the root of the growing Universe. Earth, where humanity evolved and grew in population, was approximately formed four billion years ago, through the accretion of dust and gas in a solar nebula.

The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet union on October 4, 1957. The first human to go to space, Yuri Gagarin, was also launched by the Soviet union, for a one- orbit journey around Earth on April 12, 1961. After 10 years, the American astronauts walked on the surface of the moon for the first time. Crew members of the Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin made the first lunar landing on June 20, 1969.

The future

Space is expanding; getting larger and larger, and the expansion is accelerating. Scientists predict that if the universe reaches its limits, the ‘Big Rip’ will occur, where  accelerated expansion driven by dark energy overcomes all gravitational and physical forces, breaking apart galaxies, stars, and atoms. That would mean certain extinction for all living beings including humans. How frightening would that be? Imagine a normal life, shopping, talking, and doing daily things. Then, nothing. Its so fast, people wouldn’t feel anything. Just a sudden flash and the whole universe would perish. 

Space has history; something had happened, changed and became something else. The Universe is still changing, and no one can predict what will happen, not even scientists. Maybe the Big Rip will happen, like estimated. Maybe it won’t. If it does, what will happen next? Will it cool again, and make a new universe? Or will it stay as nothing where nothing occurs? 

Interesting facts uncovered by scientists

There are endless fascinating things in space that are open for us to explore. For example, you may have never heard that the Milky Way has an interesting smell of rum, raspberries and booze. Even this fact might be completely new to some people. Another fact that research uncovered is that Jupiter has 63 moons, due to its immense mass and gravity, which are 318 times the size of Earth. All of these facts were once discovered by scientists.  Below are even more facts about space that will blow your mind!

• Enceladus, one of Saturn’s smaller moons, reflects 90% of the Sun’s light.

• The Milky Way galaxy is 105,700 light-years wide.

• Earth is the only planet not named after a God.

• According to mathematics, white holes are possible, although as of yet scientists have found none.

• There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand in the world.

• Only 5% of the universe is visible from Earth.