Essay The Sputnik Launch

From a United States and Soviet Union perspective that conveys that the Space Race had a minor impact on the improvisation of United States defense technologies; the Space Race was in a way responsible for the United State’s production of new technology of missiles and defense against intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the late 1950s the United States Air Force started a series of advanced strategic missile projects under the Weapon System WS-199A called Martin's Bold Orion air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM). Similar to ICBMs the purpose of the ALBM was to destroy satellites sent into orbit that posed a intellectual and physical threat to the US. The ALBM was created due to the increasing pressure that the Soviets were to launch a satellite before the United States, and since the United States would not know of the capabilities of this

In addition to initiating a space race between the two current superpowers, the Sputnik spacecraft launch also had alarming military implications. The Sputnik satellites used intercontinental ballistic missiles that were initially used for their thrust capabilities but could theatrically be capable of flying from the Soviet Union to United States military targets in less than an hour—cutting the flight time to a fraction of a conventional bomber aircraft. In response to the launch of Sputnik, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958. The act created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) . To prevent the rise of Soviet dominance in military matters, Eisenhower also established the Advanced Research Projects Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Defense. This was symbolic of a serious revelation of the standing of the scientific and technological capabilities of America in comparison to other countries, and also led to President Eisenhower issuing a proclamation to increase funding for education in America in science and engineering to combat this widening deficit. The quick Soviet lead in the newly emerging space race caused much panic, which shaped American foreign policy for the following decade(Document E). An example is avoiding “an all-out war with China” for fear of having to combat communism on two fronts.(Document

According to Doc A "Sputnik came as a surprise to most Americans". Not only did "Sputnik came as a surprise to most Americans" Sputnik also struck fear into many Americans. Americans even prepared for a nuclear war, they also made a video called "Duck and Cover"(you can find it here " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60 "). Around this time Dr. Wernher Von Braun made a full scale model of Explorer 1, replicating the first satellite by the U.S.(Doc E). While in a rush to catch up with The Soviet Union, and on December 6th, 1957 while in a rush to catch up, the U.S. sent the Vanguard rocket attempting to get the rocket to space quickly the U.S. rushed causing the rocket to turn into a fireball on TV.

Well before Russia thought about launching Sputnik into space, there had been quite a bit of tension between America and the Soviet Union. The two countries had been allies in World War II, but they had a very tense relationship with one another. Americans were leery with the communist government that the Soviets had and their leader, Joseph Stalin. The Soviets despised the fact that America refused to acknowledge the USSR as an actual international society. With this being said, by the time World War II was ended and over with, each country’s hatred grew creating an overpowering sense of spite and belligerence. Therefore, these tensions led to the start of the Cold War between America and the Soviet Union. The Cold War was an atomic age, meaning that the two countries developed and tested atomic weapons like the ones used during World War II, which forged stakes that were severely high. The Cold War led to advancements in not only atomic weapons or just weapons in general, but advancements in technology, which we see with the launch of Sputnik.

The political aspects of the cold war were very different for both countries. America was very worried that, since the Soviet Union had the first satellite in space, they were taking a big first step is controlling the Earth. America also felt that they didn’t have any precautions if the Soviet Union decided to attack America with any space equipment so America decided they needed to advance on the political front of the space race (Doc A.) America also realized that Russia and the Soviet Union was finally ahead of us in technology. According to document B, George E. Reedy said “… It took them four years to catch up to our atomic bomb and nine months to catch up to our hydrogen bomb. Now we are trying to catch up to their satellite.” As stated in document D, John F. Kennedy said “… I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” Kennedy wanted this so America

After World War II drew to a close in the mid-20th century, a new conflict began. Known as the Cold War, this battle involved the two world’s greatest powers the democratic and capitalist United States against the communist Soviet Union. Beginning later in the 1950s, space would eventually become another very dramatic arena for competition between the U.S and U.S.S.R, each side looked to prove the superiority of their own technology, along with its military firepower and of course their political-economic systems. Sputnik, name of the first of several artificial satellites launched by the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1961. Successfully launched and entered Earth 's orbit. Thus, beginning the space age. The successful launch shocked the

During 1957, the Soviets launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1. The U.S were concerned that the Soviets would attach a missile to the satellite and consequently gain the ability to fire down at the U.S with little to no notice. As fear rose in the U.S, the government seized the perfect opportunity to gain public support for NASA and the space program. The government used this as the ideal time to magnify the nation's fears of communism into the form of propaganda. As the U.S produced high quantities of propaganda, the Soviets responded with their own, highlighting their personal attitudes and ideologies.

The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union surprised many Americans. They thought that they were in danger because, it showed that the United States was no longer safe behind the ocean barriers. There was a claim that who ever controlled space controlled the world, and Soviet Union had been in the lead. As stated in Document B, the Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. after listening to the announcement of Sputnik’s launch on the radio, was in shock of realizing another nation could achieve technological superiority over America. People could no longer consider the Russians behind them in technology. Though it took them many years to catch to the atomic bomb and nine months to catch up to the

Although there is disagreement on the precise date that the Space Race began, the moment that it became an important competition that was in the forefront of the minds of everyday Americans is on April 12, 1961 when Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the earth in Vostok 1. (citation). This event created a feeling amongst the American public that the Russians were further ahead in science and technology than the United States, as well as the fear that the Soviets could use their superior technology to be better able to attack the USA from a distance. Shortly after Gagarin’s flight, the United States launched astronaut Alan Sheppard into

Sputnik 1 orbited the Earth every 98 minutes, flying over the United States seven times a day.(Danielle Burton) During the Cold war the launch of Sputnik I by the Soviet Union in October 1957 created a fear in the United States.The United states feared that nuclear warheads could soon come. In response the United States created and funded the National Defense Education Act(NDEA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA). The United States and the Soviet Union were at the start of an arms race and a space race. The funds for NASA were excellent, because the United states had a lot of fear after seeing what the Soviet Union was doing.

Thank you Stephanie for sharing your comments! I enjoyed learning more about the Cold War. The United States was also affected during the time of the Sputnik. The Sputnik affected people in many ways. Some people feared the Sputnik. For some people, it provided a sense of hope at some point. People may have wanted to learn more at this time. People may have also wanted to learn more about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It is important for people to learn more about these things, when it pertains to science and culture. Did you learn anything about Sputnik that will help you in the

The second author downplays what the first author calls a “tremendous accomplishment” by stating that not only was the satellite poorly made, it contained no scientific instruments that could be of any use to mankind. In essence, the author is claiming that the Soviet Union had sent a second-rate satellite to space in a show of one upmanship, not for the betterment of mankind. The author claims that by doing so, the Russians have strengthened the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, and have also worsened the political circumstance. In addition, the author also brings the audience's attention to James Van Allen, a scientist who “wanted to show that space could be used...for the missiles of war.” By bringing up and American scientist, the presumably American author persuades his American audience that they haven’t been

The Apollo-Soyuz mission was the first time that each nation combined their efforts, in reality it was to show an easing of tension between the two superpowers (détente). This mission became the foundation of other joint missions like the Shuttle-Mir, resulting in ongoing missions to the International Space Station. While, the easing of political tensions may not be directly attributed to Sputnik. Unknowingly the launch influenced our political views on space from military peaceful purposes and creating changes in the space program which affected our

The Soviet Union rejected the policy and didn’t agree with it, therefore Eisenhower started to think of how he will solve this. Eisenhower announced on July 29th that the United States will begin working on a scientific satellite. The Soviet Union took it as threat, so they immediately announced that they will also launch a satellite. According to the book The Cold War, A New History, “The Soviet Union enjoyed no such advantages. It waged only one war, but it was arguably the most terrible one in all of history.”

Countries were suddenly unnerved by what USSR could do. It had the power to launch objects into space to reach places over other countries. And for once, there was a country more formidable than the United States. The United States, out of fear, started to prepare for what might come next, and as a result of the chaos that followed the launch, programs were instated for US to catch-up to the USSR. The launch of Sputnik, spurred the economy of the United States.