Fifty Years of the Space Age

Fifty years ago this evening, Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite was launched, and changed the world.
That first mission can be seen as little more than a propaganda coup, and many people are dismissive of the benefits of space flight, particularly manned flight. On the other hand, satellites have brought huge benefits in communications and navigation as well as in the understanding and management of earth resources.

I believe that the space programmes have provided us with a great technological stimulus, and given us with huge benefits. I wish I could be as confident that the next fifty years will bring about technological changes as great as those we have seen in the last fifty, but let's try to be optimistic.