Science is (Still) Cool: Space Race 50th Anniversary

Photo from source, CNET News

Just a little while ago, I posted a Science is Cool post, highlighting one of the latest examples of our space program's accomplishments. What I didn't yet realize, is that today is actually the 50th anniversary of the US entry into the "Space Race." Of course, the space program had been up and running at least long enough to get a satellite ready to go, but it was launched on January 31, 1958.

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Golden anniversary--U.S. enters space race

After some spectacular failures, the United States successfully launched its first satellite, Explorer 1, into Earth's orbit on January 31, 1958. It was an important step for the United States in the Cold War and its first response in the space race after Russia had successfully launched two satellites. . .

Read more at: CNET News