Hey there, Grade 3 cosmic explorers! Today, let's blast off into the vast unknown of outer space and unravel the incredible story of when humans discovered the wonders beyond our planet. Ancient Wonderers: Did you know that ancient civilizations were the first space enthusiasts? They observed the stars, planets, and the moon, creating myths and stories about the celestial objects in the night sky. Telescopic Triumphs: Fast forward to the 17th century when Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the heavens. This moment marked a giant leap in space exploration. Galileo discovered that Earth was not the only celestial body with features?other planets had them too! Modern Space Age: The real space exploration era began in the mid-20th century. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. This event marked the official entry of humanity into outer space. Moon Landing Marvel: Perhaps the most iconic moment in space history occurred on July 20, 1969, when NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed humans on the moon. Neil Armstrong's famous words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," echoed through the cosmos.