First space photo: V2 rocket's daring 1946 mission revealed
The first photograph of our planet taken from outer space dates back to 1946 when the Americans used a captured German V2 rocket from World War II.
At the end of the Second World War, the United States acquired various German weapons technologies, including V2 rockets. These rockets were part of the American space program from 1946 to 1951. A total of 67 rockets were launched as part of this program.
The first construction that reached outer space
On October 24, 1946, the V2 rocket became the first human-made object to reach outer space, reaching an altitude of about 65 miles. Onboard was a 35 mm camera that captured the first images of Earth.
Although the rocket did not return to Earth in one piece and hit the planet's surface at a speed of 340 mph, the film with valuable images survived, and it currently serves as the oldest preserved picture of our planet from space.
The camera was saved by a steel case
Michael Neufeld, associated with Washington's National Air and Space Museum, emphasizes that the achievement in 1946 was impressive. According to the portal Interesting Engineering, placing the camera in a steel case allowed it to survive the intense impact.
Neufeld explains that the lack of parachutes on V2 rockets meant that the American military was not sure about the success of each mission. In early V2 tests, equipment was mounted in armored casings in the hope that it would withstand the Earth's impact at high speeds.
It's noteworthy that the mentioned V2 rocket, developed by the Third Reich, entered service in 1944. Its length was nearly 48 feet, while the diameter slightly exceeded 5 feet, with a wingspan of 12 feet. It was powered by a single-stage liquid-fueled engine that generated a thrust of 55,600 lbs, propelling the construction to supersonic speeds in 80 seconds. The maximum speed of the V2 reached 3,400 mph.
