Space race
The Space Race was another way the Soviet Union and the United States tried to outdo each other. During the Space Race the United States and the Soviet Union tried to prove that their form of government was better by learning more about the Universe and being more scientifically advanced.
The first goal of the Space Race was to launch a satellite. The Soviet Union accomplished this goal first, launching the satellite Sputnik I on October 4, 1957. The United States reaction by passing the National Defense Education Act. This act caused schools to put a bigger push on math and science education.
The United States established NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on July 29, 1958. NASA’s purpose was to help the US catch up and eventually surpass the Soviet Union with space missions. The United States first successfully launched the Explorer I, a satellite to orbit the Earth, on January 31, 1958.
On April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union sent the first human to space, Yuri Gagarin. A month later, on May 5, 1961, the United States sent the first American into space, Alan Shepard. On February 20, 1962, John H. Glenn, Jr became the first American to orbit the Earth. The first woman in space was the Soviet Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, on June 16, 1963.
In May, 1961, tired of being behind the Soviet Union, President Kennedy declared “the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.” This started the Apollo missions. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 was launched carrying three passengers. The goal of the mission was two land on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon, ending the Space Race.
The first goal of the Space Race was to launch a satellite. The Soviet Union accomplished this goal first, launching the satellite Sputnik I on October 4, 1957. The United States reaction by passing the National Defense Education Act. This act caused schools to put a bigger push on math and science education.
The United States established NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on July 29, 1958. NASA’s purpose was to help the US catch up and eventually surpass the Soviet Union with space missions. The United States first successfully launched the Explorer I, a satellite to orbit the Earth, on January 31, 1958.
On April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union sent the first human to space, Yuri Gagarin. A month later, on May 5, 1961, the United States sent the first American into space, Alan Shepard. On February 20, 1962, John H. Glenn, Jr became the first American to orbit the Earth. The first woman in space was the Soviet Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova, on June 16, 1963.
In May, 1961, tired of being behind the Soviet Union, President Kennedy declared “the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.” This started the Apollo missions. On July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 was launched carrying three passengers. The goal of the mission was two land on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon, ending the Space Race.