Question

In your own words, explain why the period between 1951 and 1959 is regarded as the dawn of space age. What are two technological advancements or discoveries from this time period?

Answer 1

-Charles H. Townes builds the Maser in 1953 at the Columbia University.
-The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth on October 4, 1957.
-The United States conducts its first hydrogen bomb explosion test.
-The invention of the modern Solar cell.
-Passenger jets enter service.
-The U.S uses Federal prisons, mental institutions and pharmilogical testing volunteers to test drugs like LSD and chlorpromazine. Also started experimenting with the transorbital lobotomy.

Science
-Francis Crick and James Watson discover the double-helix structure of DNA.
-An immunization vaccine is produced for polio.
-The first successful ultrasound test of the heart activity.
-The CERN is established.
-The world's first nuclear power plant is opened in Obninsk near Moscow.
-NASA is organized.
-President Harry S. Truman inaugurated transcontinental television service on September 4, 1951 when he made a speech to the nation. AT&T carried his address from San Francisco and it was viewed from the west coast to the east coast at the same time.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950s#Science_and_technology