The Space Race

Methods of fighting a “Cold War”​

S - Space Race

H - Help (Foreign Aid)

A - Arms Race

P - Proxy Wars

E - 

D - Diplomacy​

The Space Race​

• ​The Cold War increased the science and education programs in the US and the USSR

• Soviets leaped into an early lead in the Space Race

The Space Race​

• August 1957 - Soviets announced the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)

  • Rockets that could travel great distances​

The Race is On​

• October, 1957 - Soviets used an ICBM to push the first unmanned satellite named Sputnik above earth’s atmosphere​

The Race is On​

• Sputnik circled the globe every 96 minutes

• This was a triumph of Soviet technology

  • It showed Soviet superiority over the West​

The Race is On​

• The Soviets also launched a dog named Laika into space to see how living things reacted to space

  • Sadly, it was a one way trip​

The Race is On​

• ​The Americans are shocked the USSR is ahead of them in this Space Race.

• American scientists worked frantically to catch up to the Soviets

The Race is On​

• The space race has close ties to the arms race because rockets can now help deliver nuclear weapons!

• America is greatly concerned that the Soviets may also have this capability!

The Race is On​

• To help improve the US response to the Space Race, Congress approved the $1 billion National Defense Education Act program.

  • It's major purpose was to strengthen the teaching of mathematics, science, and modern foreign languages​

The Race is On​

• Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to coordinate the US's activities in space

  • Opened in 1958​

The Race is On​

• The first attempt at a US satellite launch was a failure

• By end of January, 1958, the US successfully launched its first satellite (Explorer 1)

The Race is On​

• As an unexpected benefit, American's quality of life also improved.

  • Items intended for military and space use such as microwaves and internet began being used in daily life.​

The Race is On​

• 1960 - President Eisenhower proposed that the US and USSR be able to fly over each others territory

  • He felt this would help guard against nuclear attacks

  • The USSR said no​

The Race is On​

• The CIA then starts flying secret missions using the U-2 spy plane

  • The planes could fly at high altitudes over Soviet territory​

The Race is On​

• The Soviets shot down a U-2 plane in Soviet airspace 

  • The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, is captured

  • This heightened the Cold War tensions​

The Race is On​

• In 1961, the USSR becomes the first nation on earth to put a man in outer space – cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

• This was another thing the Soviets did first.

The Race is On​

• Later in 1961, the Americans put their first man into space – Alan Shepard.  

• Soon after, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth while in space.

The Race is On​

• A few years later, the US was the first to place a man on the moon.

  • American Astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first to walk on the moon​

The Race is On​

The US had finally pulled ahead in the space race with the USSR.​