3 Oct : When first man made object reached space

It was this day in 1942 that anything made by man could cross the invisible boundary of space. A German rocket, V-2 A4, launched from Peenemünde, an island off Germany’s Baltic coast became the first known man-made object to reach space, traveling 118 miles.

It was also the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile. Thus, it proved extraordinarily deadly in the wars. Both the United States and the Soviet Union captured samples of the rockets for reproduction–they also captured the scientists responsible for their creation.

The V-2 was unique in several ways : 
1. It was virtually impossible to intercept.
2. Upon launching, the missile rises six miles vertically; it then proceeds on an arced course, cutting off its own fuel according to the range desired.
3. The missile then tips over and falls on its target-at a speed of almost 4,000 mph.
4. It hits with such force that the missile burrows itself into the ground several feet before exploding.
5. It had the potential of flying a distance of 200 miles, and the launch pads were portable, making them impossible to detect before firing.

#Hindi
1942 में आज जर्मनी के पीनेमॉन्डे में V-2 A4 रॉकेट को लॉन्च किया गया था। 118 मील की दूरी तय कर ये रॉकेट, अंतरिक्ष में पहुंचने वाली इंसान की बनाई हुई पहली चीज़ थी। इतना ही नहीं, ये रॉकेट अपने समय से काफी आगे की चीज़ थी। तभी तो अमेरिका और सोवियत यूनियन इस रॉकेट को बनाने की होड़ में लग गए थे। इसकी एक वजह ये भी थी कि V-2 A4 रॉकेट को युद्ध के दौरान मिसाइल की तरह भी इस्तेमाल किया गया था।