1960s Space Race

In a time of separation and unrest, the United States needed to be a united front against a common enemy with a common goal. The United States used the technological advances in space exploration and the rivalry with the Soviet Union to unite the citizens when tension was great among them. Space exploration milestones that occurred in the 1960s were important to the sense of pride of United States citizens. The Atlas Program and the Apollo Program were major successes in the eyes of the United States and set them apart from their opponent in the space race, the Soviet Union. Space exploration was very important to the 1960s because amongst the chaos of the revolutionary decade, the government was still able to boost morale and restore people’s

According to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, the space race began In 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite which the United States saw as a challenge to see who could make the most technological advancements within the following decade (Space Program).Shortly after the race began, the Soviet Union sent Yuri Gagarin into space, and he became the first man to Orbit the earth, the United States saw this as a sign that they were falling behind their competition (Space Program).The space race aimed to determine a superior nation between the United States and the Soviet Union, in the beginning the Soviet Union was clearly in the lead so the people of the United States were even more united with the common goal of being a superior nation. According to the National Cold War Exhibition at the Royal

On February 20, 1962, the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission better known as the “Friendship 7” sent John Glenn Jr. into Space with the goal of being the first American to orbit the earth (Mercury) .The mission was successful with the spacecraft reaching an altitude of 162 statute miles, and an orbital velocity of 17,500 miles per hour (John). Even though it was not the first orbital mission of the world, the success of the Mercury-Atlas 6 Mission was a monumental achievement and gave Americans the reassurance that they were a contender in the race. The success of the mission inspired about two million government workers to share their skills for the future space flights (Friendship). The generosity of those people helped to send the next six piloted flights launch (Friendship). The Atlas program was inspiring and increased the pride of American citizens by getting them involved in the highly successful program. The program that put the U.S. back in the space race boosted the morale and national pride, and also encouraged the progression of space exploration for the