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The Space Race

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The Space Race (1950-1960s), was an event that has influenced many generations of human race. In the Second half of the twentieth century, the world’s leading power, the United States of America and the Union of Socialist Republics (USSR) were engaged in a global competition, also known as the cold war, where they were trying to influence “non aligned” nations to take a side in the war. Military, political, scientific and diplomatic effort would affect the balance of power in the world, the loser will fall and will lost the ability to control his sphere of influence. Both nations went to the moon, however only the USA made it back to the Earth. The Space Race has revolutionized the world, people 's societal views , and helped humanity in several …show more content…

The Americans, obviously, directly responded with the “Mercury” space capsule controlled by Alan B (“The Space Race”). One year later the American finally reached to send a man into orbit, John Glenn (“Cadbury”). The Soviets were winning everything, they sent the first satellite into space, the first dog into space, the first man, the first duo, the first trio, the first space walk and many other achievement. Many American saw Russia as the enemy, and the enemy was winning. Space Race had a national interest in the USA, and for the prosperity of their country, the Americans had to come up with a great idea that could beat the Russians. NASA scientist needed a major achievement to turn it around. In 1961, President Kennedy explained to the population of America in a speech, that the United States of America will send a man to the moon within the next ten years. He launched the Moon Race. It was a major challenge that cost 25 Billion dollars to the Americans(“NASA”), but that could have an incredible impact on the world by improving technology and how people were perceiving the world. The Soviet proposed a moon program, so that both nation could collaborate effectively together in order to develop new technologies and be on the moon faster, unfortunately because of their opposite opinions and point of view this program failed and both countries worked alone (“The Space Race”). The USA were determined, this could really change their position on the international scene. NASA scientists developed the Apollo 11 (“Cadbury”), a rocket capable of sending three astronauts to the moon and come safely back on Earth. The astronauts were Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (University Nebraska). The Launch was on the 16th of July 1969, more than 500 millions people were

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Soon after the Cold War came to an end, the United States and the USSR both began military technological advancements. If the USSR could get missiles into space, they could set them off at anyone anywhere. In the interest of protecting America and possibly the rest of the world, the main objective for the Space Race was to protect us against missiles from the USSR military. These advancements led to a competition between the US and the USSR to see who would be the first to space. America and the USSR were two of the most powerful countries in the entire world at that point in time.

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Between the years of 1947 and 1991 the USSR and the United States remained in a long period of tension known as The Cold War. This war was a state of political and economical in proxy wars such as the space race and the arms race the lead to the weakening of American society and laws. Marking the end of the Cold War in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed due to their economic failure and their approach to the space race. As the Cold War intensified there was a significant increase in infrastructures and military, a shift in education, and there was an overall fear in society. Education in the United States began to focus on science instead of general education in an attempt to try and win the “space race” against the Soviet Union.

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In the book, “Failure Is Not an Option”, author Gene Kranz tells the story about his life as the flight director during some of the most important space missions in American History. Being an insider during this era, gave Kranz the opportunity to reveal just how unadvanced it was in its infancy. During his three decades long tenure as flight director, Kranz saw up close all of the Space Programs accomplishments and harrowing episodes. In this book, Kranz discusses how the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States was a part of the Cold War Arms Race because of missile technology, satellite coverage, and future domination of manned flights into space. The ability of each country to put satellites and men in space, was directly tied to its missile technology.

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The backdrop of the Cold War between the United States and The Soviet Union through the mid-to-late 20th century promoted multiple international policies that reflected the tensions and the hostilities between the bipolar world. The conflicts not only remained on Earth, but what has been termed as a “space race” occurred after the USSR launched the world’s first satellite, Sputnik, into orbit in October 4th, 1957. The politics of space seemed suddenly more vital than it ever had before, and serious political thought was contemplated. What could space have to offer that would benefit for humanity? As the two superpowers competed over the next decade, the questions became more difficult.

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When the US heard of this they were shocked and began to expedite their efforts to go to space thus starting the Apollo missions. The Apollo missions began in the 1960s as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was directly competing with the SSP (Soviet Space Program). With a team of hundreds of scientists, the Apollo missions were successful in the

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The space race is the period of time where the United States and Soviet Union were competing against each other’s spaceflight capability and ever changing/improving modern technology. Both sides tried to prove themselves superiority of their science, technology, and engineering skills. The Soviet Union took the lead in this space exploration after launching Sputnik (a satellite that orbited Earth), and sent a man into space years after. The United States tried catching up but had several failed attempts. A month following the Soviet Union sending a man into space, the United States elected a new president, John.

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The schools started changing; their curriculums became much stronger in math and science. It was more a goal to develop an engineer than attorney; it just really affected our schools.” From this quotation one can see that the space race influenced the education in the United States and changed it for the better. Bradt says, “Though Sputnik was a relatively simple satellite compared with the more complex machines to follow, its beeping signal from space galvanized the United States to enact reforms in science and engineering education so that the nation could regain technological ground it appeared to have lost to its Soviet rival” (Bradt). Although the Sputnik was not known to be technologically advanced it was the first thing to orbit the earth, it stunned people in the United States and caused an instant response.

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