![]() Following World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States engaged in a struggle to prove their superiority. The Cold War constituted nearly fifty years of physical battles, technological advancements, and diplomatic engagements. Space became another avenue of competition because of the prospect of atmospheric control and the undeniable message it sent to the international community.īy 1960, the battles extended beyond Earth’s gravity. National leaders from both countries recognized the opportunity of space exploration from a political perspective and began heavily funding missions. From the beginning, the Space Race was an extension of this ideological battle between the two nations.ĭominance in the skies was far more important than land battles it was a way to prove unchallenged superiority to the entire world. Space became the final frontier for the United States and Soviet Union to compete to prove their status as sole superpower. Sputnik 1: Octo-The Soviet Union’s first spacecraft launch changed the world overnight. Sputnik was the first artificial satellite to enter the atmosphere and passed over the United States multiple times daily. The world had never seen this technology, and the possibilities and dangers were endless, sparking fear across the globe. Sputnik is largely considered to be the “starting point” of the Space Race because of its effect on both countries’ national agendas. Laika the Dog, the first earthling to be launched into space. Sputnik 2: NovemLaika, the dog from the USSR, made history by becoming the first live organism launched into space. The Soviets launched Sputnik II less than a month after its predecessor to learn about the effects of space on animals and the conditions under which they could survive. Here is the video game Buzz Aldrins Race into Space Released in 1993 on DOS, its still available and playable with some tinkering. Unfortunately, Laika’s trip was designed to be one way. ![]() She died shortly after takeoff due to the stress of the launch.Įxplorer 1: JanuThe United States’ response to Sputnik 1 was only 80.75-inches long, but the entire setup (a Jupiter-C rocket used to send the diminutive satellite into orbit) stood 71.25-feet tall on the launchpad. ![]() Explorer 1’s launch made international headlines but fell flat in comparison to the Soviet Union’s two satellites that were already in orbit. ![]()
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