Mankind stepped over the threshold of the space age 25 years ago when Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully orhited Sputnik I. the first man-made space satellite. Even as scientists around the world listened to the “beep-beep” radio voice of the Z3-inch America was preparing its first satellite launch a few months ahold. The United States’ sl-pound Explorer was rocketed inla orbit Jan. 31, 1966, stirring pride and jubilance across the nation. This. however, came after the Rasslans had put up Sputnik ll. ‘lhe latter. more elongated than its predeceuor. was launched Nov. 3, 1957. and carried an tl-pound dog in addition to scientific instruments. The “space race.” if thnt’s the right term. was undertaken as part of the international Geophysical Year tlGYi, a cooperative venture of 64 countries and some 100,000 scientists to strip away mysterles still veillng the Earth. The lGY nations were pledged to keep each other Informed of their projects, but the Russians kept their lIfwfsm a secret until they had a satellite in orbit. Space conquat of the past quarter century has included U.S. and Russian lunar probes and unmanned landings; sis moon landings by American manned craft; numerous orbital flights by both countries and planetary probes to nearby planets Venus and Mars in the lllls. Later probes have been made of Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn. Photos and data have been transmitted hack to Earth to give man a better picture of the universe and its features and environment. American astronauts stayed in space as long as W days in the Skylab program, providing information on protracted weightlessness and space radiation. This year the National Aeronautics and Space Administration signals a major milestone with introduction of the Space Shuttle to regular operational service as the principal element of its space transportation system. Another memorable achievement was the U.S.-USSR joint flight in July M5 when Americans Vance Brand, Thomas Stafford and Donald Slayton in Apollo ll linked up in space with Russians Alesi lgonov and Valen Kubason in Soyuz 19, conducted joint experiments, shared meals, and held a joint news cooference. Space age developments have accelerated scientific progress and technologies. Spinoff benefits have helped mankind in hundreds of ways – in defense, communications. education. industry, agriculture. energy development, drugs and medicines and many other fields. The space age didn’t begin with Sputnik and Explorer, of course, Many years of scientific theoretical and experimental work plus mechanical ingenuity by spsce pioneers preceded mtry Into outer SPN! . One such scientist, Dr. Robert ll. Goddard. New England physics professor, generally ls known as the “father of rocketry.” lu arly as 1909 he considered the idea of s liquid fuel rocket utlllslng hydrogen and oxygen. it would he an understatement to say space exploration has lifted the pride and hopes of American ss well as people across the world as one historic achievement after another had taur place. Heroes have emerged: goals raised with each accomplishment. Americans well remember the deeds of astronauts in manned flights. and such words from the moon explorations as astronaut Nell A. Armstrong’s: “‘lhat’s one small step for man – one giant step for manklnd”ashesetfootouthernour Sunday, July II, IW. And the voices of astronauts Frank Borman, James A. lvvell Jr. and William Anders on Oirlstmu eve ISSB in a telecast from &turn 8 tas the first moon orbital flint as they gave a moving prayer for peace and recited the biblical pussge from Genesis. “And God created the heavens and the Barth …” The broadcast came as they transmitted pictures above the moons “Sea of Tranquility” D0,000 miles from a return to Earth. The space age has spawned new words. given new meanings to old ones. Such words as Landsat. Comsat, orblter, command’ module, space station. tracking stations. spacelab and various computer terms. NASA officials say that for all the accomplishments to gete, we have ‘ust begun to tg aerospace benefit potential. The world will await with anticipation the promise of coming years.