The 1600s: Galileo and spyglass
Galileo is often incorrectly credited with the creation of a telescope. Instead, he significantly improved upon them. In 1609, he first learned of the existence of the spyglass, which excited him. He began to experiment with telescope-making, going so far as to grind and polish his own lenses. His telescope allowed him to see with a magnification of eight or nine times. In comparison, spyglasses of the day only provided a magnification of three.
Source: space.com
NASA was created
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Pub.L. 85-568) created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Section 20112 (a)(3) of the Act directs NASA “to provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning NASA activities and the results thereof.” The sharing of information, and our history, has always been, and continues to be, a priority.
Source: history.nasa.gov
1972 : human beings reached the moon
Apollo 11 was the spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin formed the American crew that landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC.
Source: Apollo 11 – Wikipedia
1998: International Space Station
The process of assembling the International Space Station (ISS) started in 1998 and was completed in 2011, with five partners involved: Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Source: weforum.org
The space station is made of many pieces. The pieces were put together in space by astronauts. The space station’s orbit is approximately 250 miles above Earth. NASA uses the station to learn about living and working in space. These lessons will help NASA explore space.
Source: What Is the International Space Station?- NASA
In the future
Private spaceflight
In recent years, companies such as SpaceX and Boeing have started vying for more large-scale government contracts. The launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy this February aims to demonstrate the world’s most powerful rocket since the Saturn V by placing SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s very own Tesla roadster in the Sun’s orbit.
Source: National Geographic
Space is getting closer
This decade might be the first decade that human civilization dives into the space. A lot of people will go to other planets like Mars and travel in the space, for sure. It is exciting to see what will happen in the space.