In 1958, scientists in the United States and the Soviet Union began serious efforts to design a spacecraft that could carry human beings. Both nations chose to develop a wingless capsule atop a launch vehicle that would consist of a modified long-range missile.

The prospect of human beings traveling in space greatly worried scientists. Tests with animals had shown that space travel probably involved no physical danger, but there were serious concerns about possible psychological hazards.

Some experts feared that the stresses of launch, flight, and landing might drive a space traveler to terror or unconsciousness. ... Full Text

Cosmic Collision

Our home galaxy the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy are on a collision course! The Andromeda is the most distant object one can see with naked eye. Code named M31 or Messier 31, Andromeda is a giant spiral galaxy of about 300 billion stars. This galaxy is about twice as big as the Milky Way and about 2.5 million light years away from us. The galaxy is moving towards to our own Milky Way at a speed about 500,000 km/hour. Scientists believe ... Full Text