How did we get to the Moon? Propulsion technology and the space shuttles
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- As the Space Race progressed, engine technology advanced further.
- More powerful engines were needed to send crews and payloads beyond the orbit.
- The Apollo and Space Shuttle programs would lead to technologies that are still in use today.
Welcome back to our series on the past, present, and future of propulsion technology.
In our inaugural installment, we examined how the Space Age established the foundation for rocket and spacecraft technology - a key aspect of which was the solid propellant and liquid-fueled thruster. These early engine designs sent the first artificial satellites, cosmonauts, and astronauts to space.
Watching NASA's spacecraft impact an asteroid was "exciting beyond words," Dr. Tom Statler told IE in an interview.