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How Did The Cold War Influence The Space Race

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The Influence of the Cold War and the Space Race
The Influence of the Cold War and the Space Race
On the Evolution of Today’s Technology

A few hundred key inventions have marked mankind’s progress from the Stone Age to the Space Age. What were these inventions? Who made them possible? Where would the world be today if the space race would of not been part of our historical progress? Some people believe that mankind would have been better off left alone. This paper will demonstrate that the space race during the cold war has influenced the course of success of a new era of technology in many aspects improving the material prosperity of mankind. Since the early 1900, economic growth and strength of nations have been directly related to the …show more content…

From the Abacus, the simplest form of calculating to the role of today’s computer, from the early telegraph to today’s satellite communications, from the simplest kite to today’s Jet Engine Airplanes, from the first liquid-fuelled rocket to today’s Space Shuttle, and much more to come, inventors, scientist, engineers, military forces and governments have all been responsible for those new discoveries made by mankind. “Perhaps the most misleading catch-phrase learned in childhood is that ‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ creating social compulsions no one knows how to control.” (The Inventions, pg.8) In the 1980’s, people were embroiled in many problems related to the evolution of technology, from those created by the microchip to those unleashed by the H-bomb. In contrast, invention springs from a divine discontent with things the way they are and a conviction that man can do better. It is a conviction mankind should do their best to continue to promote. Perhaps, looking at the evolution of the technology used during the Space Race and the Cold War between the two most powerful forces of our history will help us put into a new …show more content…

From a very simple invention satisfying man’s conviction to do better, the abacus dramatically encouraged the growth of trade wherever it was adopted, for it was well suited to any commercial calculation. Still used in the Soviet Union and in the Far East in the 20th century, the abacus was finally replaced worldwide by the cheap electronic calculator. (The Inventions, pg.10) In 1945, the world’s first fully electronic computer was completed at the University of Pennsylvania. It was called ENIAC-Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer. It occupied 1,500 sq. ft of floor space and weighted over 30 tons. Its 18,000 thermionic valves consumed 150 kW of electric power. ENIAC was capable of 5,000 additions a second. (The Inventions, pg.258) ENIAC marked a stage in man’s technological evolution. In 1948, the transistor was invented. The transistor replaced thermionic valves in such way that it manipulated electrons in the same method, but the transistor was many times smaller, needed less power and was cheaper and more reliable. Mankind ability to transform these discoveries into useful products remodeled the science and technology of electronics and other related fields. Every discovery served a purpose, the thermionic valves made possible the development of

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