1.3 Protecting the Earth

Humanity has had the technology to send spacecraft and people into space and return them for over seventy years, since the early days of the space age saw the Sputnik satellite orbit the Earth and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Vostok 1 became the first man in space.

So far, we have considered why we need to protect other planets, but humanity’s exploration and use of space is not only one-way.

Figure 5 Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space

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A black and white head shot photograph of Gagarin in a spacesuit

Figure 5 Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space