The Space Race
Katy Werwath
What is the Space Race?
The Space Race was competition in the 1950's and 1960's between the Soviet Union and the United States to land a man on the moon and create advances in space such as satellites, etc. The leaders involved were Kennedy, Johnson, and Krushchev.
The Space Race and the Cold War
- In many ways, the Space Race paralleled the Cold War. In both the Space Race and Cold War, both sides tried to control new land to spread their influence.
- Also, in the Cold War both sides began stockpiling and competing to create more weapons, which parallels the competition for creating scientific advances in space.
- Like the battles and fighting of the Cold War, there were also casualties involved in the Space Race and it was incredibly dangerous.
- Like the Cold War, there were some small failures in both planning and execution. An example of this is the fire during pre launch testing for Project Apollo in 1967, which parallels Bay of Pigs.
- There was American and Soviet propaganda and campaigns involved in both the Space Race and Cold War. Also, in both scenarios, both states spent an enormous amount of money.
- The Space Race represented the Cold War on a small scale, and really brought out the competitive spirit and nationalism between both states.
Why is the Space Race Important?
Firstly, the Space Race led to many major scientific advances, which are still presently being used. These advances led to new fields of science, NASA, and has dramatically increased our understanding of space. Additionally, the Space Race represented the long-running rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union. The United States' victory in putting a man on the moon first was also a victory for Capitalism and a failure for Communism. This increased national support and made some question Communist principles.
Time Magazine's Moon Landing Inspired Cover
The Apollo Eagle Spacecraft
Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
First Moon Landing 1969