During World War II (WWII) the United States (U.S.) and Russia fought as allies against the Nazis. Following WWII, the relationship between the two countries quickly began to deteriorate. Around 1947 the WWII era ended and a Cold War involving the U.S. and Soviet Russia began. The Marshall Plan was implemented following Soviet aggression in Europe in order to provide aid and relief to an already war-torn nation. The Soviet response to the Marshall Plan became known as the Zhdanov Doctrine. This doctrine supposed that American imperialists were trying to conquer the world and end the spread of democracy. It also claimed the Soviet Union’s goals were to eliminate imperialism and support democracy. It was no secret that the Soviet Union was, in fact, attempting to claim all of Europe for mother Russia. Thus sparked a Cold War that would last for decades. One of the biggest events of the Cold War was the launch of Sputnik. On October 4th, 1957, Russia launched Sputnik into outer space. The satellite became the first object to orbit the Earth. Russian success in putting a vehicle into orbit sparked massive military, political, and technological implications. Most of these implications were due to the fact that Russia was …show more content…
government actions during the beginning of the space race was the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A few short months after Sputnik the U.S. attempted to launch its own Vanguard satellite. The rocket lifted off the pad at Cape Canaveral, FL and blew up shortly after. It was clear that the U.S. needed a more organized approach to winning the race against Russia. Therefore, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act in 1958, which established NASA as America’s leading entity in in space utilization. To this day, NASA is the world’s leading organization in space exploration, research and development, and space
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Show MoreThe same year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formed (“The Space Race”). In 1959, the Soviet Union sent a man, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit around the earth on the satellite Luna 2. The U.S. responded by launching Mercury-Redstone 3 into space carrying
The race continued until 1969 when Niel Armstrong set foot on the moon (Seedhouse 128). The first satellite the Soviet Union launched into orbit was called Sputnik and it came as an unpleasant surprise to many Americans (“The Space Race”). Historians argue that the Soviet Union won the space race on October 4 1957 with the launch of Sputnik, but most agree it was just the start to the race (Seedhouse 128). After the launch of Sputnik the United States launched their own satellite in 1958 called explorer 1 which was designed by the United States army. The race began to heat up and the Soviet Union launched Luna 2 which became the first space probe to hit the moon (“The Space Race”).
As technology advanced, the Soviet Union and American space programs continued to advance and compete against each other. Physical sciences and a great emphasis on math was introduced in American school systems and the number of space operations grew. Many satellites were sent into space, space crews were launched, and the Americans stepped foot on the moon. The space race and its technological advancements allowed both Russia and America to
In 1967 when USSR launched the satellite Sputnik into orbit the only satellite we had seen from earth was the moon. This single event change our thoughts of space and travel forever and suddenly the space race was on to see who could achieve space travel first and secure our National Security. The USSR was the first to send a man into space but with the promise of a young president we were the first to land on the moon. For the next few decades these two power nations would not only change space technology and our understanding of the universe but it would change the lives of everyone on the planet. The Apollo Missions changed everyday technology that would cause a dramatic shift in electronics and computer technology.
Due to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s sudden death April 12, 1945 that left many people in shock, Truman took over and served as president. Many people were doubtful of his leadership skills since they were never showcased during his short time serving as the vice president. Although many Americans were worried, Truman managed to prove himself as a good leader quickly due to overcoming the many problems he faced as soon as he entered office. The beginning of the Cold War took place during Truman’s transition to becoming the president.
The space race of the Cold War Era was one of great ingenuity and accomplishment which opened the door for space exploration and travel. These races do share one major similarity in that the goal of both was and is to make the United States a leader in space exploration; however, the reasons and participants in each race are very different. After World War II, during the Cold War era, the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States was a tense and competitive one with each wanting to maintain the role as the world’s superpower, especially militarily and technologically. The Soviet Union took the initiative to become superior in the space field by successfully launching the first artificial Earth satellite on October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1. Then, just one month later, on November 3, 1957, Russia launched the spacecraft, Sputnik 2, into orbit which had the first living passenger, a dog named Laika.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established by the United States government in 1958 for the purpose of developing vehicles and activities for the exploration of space. Five program offices comprise NASA: Aeronautics and Space Technology for development of equipment, Space Science and Applications for understanding the origin and evolution of the universe, Space Flight for manned and unmanned space transportation, Space Tracking and Date for tracking and data acquisition, and Space Station to establish a manned space station. While NASA has achieved remarkable accomplishments including putting the first man on the moon, the organization has had its fair share of ethical blunders. The Apollo 13 incident occurred April
The 1950’s Space Race One of the bigger events that happened during the 1950’s and 1960’s would have to be the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. At the time the two countries were in what was called the Cold War, this was a race to have an advantage over the other country and have something the other did not. They were trying to out doing each other with atomic weapons to intimidate each other, then the countries realized the huge advantages of having technology in space and the possibilities that comes with it. Both countries immediately got to work trying to get as much to space and the moon with as much success as possible. T The Soviet Union had the first big breakthrough on October 4, 1957 when they launched
What was the “space race” and how was it related to the Cold War? During the beginning of the 1960’s, the Soviet Union and the United States were racing to put a man into space first. Russia was the first country to put a man into orbit, but America was the first country to have a man land on the moon. It related to the Cold War because of the political tensions between the U.S and Russia.
Let’s go back to the 1940’s…. The space race was related to the cold war but it wasn’t the reason that space exploration started. After World War 2 America and Russia both realized that space rockets were a huge success from the perspective of the importance of space race to begin. In 1955 both the nations announced to their country about the amazing research that was going to take place for the next couple of years or decades. Unfortunately Russia took this announcement
The Space Race, the geopolitical and astronomical contest between the Cold War rivals of USA and the USSR signified the period of meteoric rise to the pinnacle of human advancement, innovation and exploration. The influential impacts and importance of the Space Race transcended the world’s perspective towards the immeasurable potential of human accomplishment and the exponential capacity of human audacity. Moreover, the Space Race vindicated and perpetuated the power of hope, optimism and our willingness to dream the impossible. Through the Space Race, the world witnessed remarkable advancements by the two nations and their unrelenting pursuit for scientific, economical and political recognition. From the first successful launch and elliptical
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.
The beginning of the Space Race began with the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik in October of 1957. Shortly after in 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave his famous space exploration speech to Congress. In it, he asked for more resources so that the United States could send a man to the moon and bring him back to Earth safely before the decade was out.
The development of rockets can be traced by back to the Romans times hundreds of years ago. Ever since, technology continues to advance each year and the start of aerospace exploration vehicles begins. In 1957, the United States began competing with the Soviet Union in the space race, in which began when the Soviet Union successfully launched the first artificial Earth satellite called Sputnik. Not to long after, the United States launch their first artificially satellite in 1958. The competition in the space race rises, and the United States plans on sending the first man to space.
During the Cold War, the tension between the United States and Soviet Union heightened as both nations fought for the title of ultimate superpower. Attempting to exhibit superiority, the two countries challenged each other through satellite and spacecraft technological advancements. Satellites, at the time, were not a recent innovation; the United States government already used communication satellites for intelligence gathering and military operations (Rob Frieden 697). Yet, the USSR's launching of Sputnik and the Yuri Gagarin flight in 1957 and 1961 respectively, the Kennedy administration sought to develop an international satellite communication system that would "directly benefit people throughout the world and enhance national prestige"