Space Race and Cold War Flashcards

Flashcards about the Space Race and the Cold War

What was the Space Race?

A competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War to achieve milestones in space exploration.

When did the Space Race start?

The 1950s

What was Sputnik 1?

The first satellite launched into space by the Soviets in 1957.

Who was Yuri Gagarin?

A Soviet cosmonaut who was the first human to orbit Earth in 1961.

Why was NASA created?

To focus on America's space exploration efforts after the Soviet launch of Sputnik.

When was NASA created?

1958

In what year did the U.S. first use atomic weapons?

1945

What cities were attacked using atomic weapons by the U.S.?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

When did the Soviet Union successfully test a nuclear weapon?

1949

What was the Soviet Union's first nuclear weapon test called?

First Lightning

What is a hydrogen bomb?

A massively powerful nuclear weapon that uses fusion to create explosions stronger than atomic bombs.

In what years did the U.S. and USSR first test hydrogen bombs?

U.S. in 1952, USSR in 1953

What does ICBM stand for?

Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

What was America's biggest achievement in the Space Race?

Landing Apollo 11 on the Moon in 1969.

What was the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?

An agreement signed in 1963 to stop testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, space, or underwater.

Which countries signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963?

U.S., USSR, and UK

Why was the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty created?

To reduce radioactive pollution and ease Cold War tensions.

What was the purpose of NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

NATO and Warsaw Pact were created during the Cold War.

Who were allies during WW2?

Soviet Union and United States