Ancient & Medieval Views
For thousands of years, humans have looked to the stars with wonder and curiosity. Ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks developed sophisticated understanding of celestial movements, creating calendars and navigational tools based on their observations.
The geocentric model, which placed Earth at the center of the universe, dominated astronomical thinking for nearly 2,000 years. This view was formalized by Aristotle and later refined by Ptolemy, whose mathematical model of planetary motion remained the standard until the Renaissance.
During the Islamic Golden Age (8th-14th centuries), astronomers made significant advances in observational techniques and mathematical models, preserving and expanding upon Greek knowledge while developing new instruments like the astrolabe.
Early Aviation & Rocketry
The dream of flight has ancient roots, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that powered flight became a reality. The Wright brothers' successful flight in 1903 marked the beginning of the aviation era, which would rapidly advance over the following decades.
Theoretical work on rocketry began much earlier, with pioneers like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky publishing papers on space travel in the late 19th century. Robert Goddard moved from theory to practice, launching the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926, demonstrating the technology that would eventually enable space travel.
During World War II, German scientists developed the V-2 rocket, the first ballistic missile and the first human-made object to reach space. After the war, many of these scientists, including Wernher von Braun, continued their work in the United States and Soviet Union, laying the groundwork for the Space Race.