The Space Race

why were both superpowers desperate to develop satellites

it was theorised that the ability to build a satellite would give the developer superiority in the arms race

what early victories did the USSR have

Oct 1957 launched the first satellite to orbit the Earth (Sputnik), Nov 1957 Laika, a dog, was launched into a 10-day orbit in Sputnik 2

when was Sputnik

October 1957

when was Sputnik 2

November 1957

what was the effect of the Sputnik programme on the US

it appeared Soviet space tech surpassed theirs & Sputnik 2 convinced the US that the USSR had the technology to launch nuclear missiles against them

what did the US government do in September 1958

authorised $1 billion for technological development in space technology

how was the US space programme a failure

in Dec 1957 a US rocket crashed on its take-off and was referred to as ‘flopnik’

how was the Soviet Space programme a success

launching the first satellite to orbit the moon in Oct 1959 & in April 1961 the first manned satellite to orbit the earth was launched

what did Eisenhower do in 1958

established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

what was the belief among US leaders

that space was important to US security - control of space would lead to global control

what had happened by 1962

the USA had successfully launched 63 space missions compared to the USSRs 15 missions

what was the US satellite programme providing by August 1960

long-range intelligence gathering photos from space enabling the US to gain more coverage than the combined four years of U2 coverage

when did the Space Race end

July 1969 when the US sent Apollo 11 to the moon