The space Race

• Space race


  Rivalry between the USA and USSR illustrated by competition in space exploration
• During the Second World War, German scientists had developed powerful rockets like the V-2
• The Soviets and Americans used this technology and developed it to see if they could break free of earth and reach space
• US President Eisenhower announced a programme in 1955 to develop a man-made satellite
• In October 1957 the Soviets sent one of their rockets into space and launched the first ever man-made satellite, called Sputnik
• In November 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik II, a larger satellite that carried a dog called Laika
• The Americans responded by pouring money into space research
• The government funded existing programmes, and set up new ones
• The government set up a new project called Explorer, run by the US army
• By 1958 the US investment was beginning to pay off, with the launch of the Explorer I satellite in January
• In July 1958 the US Congress approved the formation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), whose original role was to encourage and co-ordinate research into the peaceful application of space science
• The primary aim of the Apollo programme was to put a man on the Moon
• The Soviets were also developing their space programme at the same time, including plans to send cosmonauts around the far side of the Moon