The Space Race How it all Began

President John F. Kennedy, 1962 "We have a long way to go in the space race. We started late. But this is the new ocean, and I believe the United States must sail on it and be in a position second to none." In the above statement, President Kennedy both accurately reported the past, and set a goal for the future.

Sputnik The space race was just one aspect of the Cold War, and America was determined to win the battle. In 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. This development by our Cold War competitor sparked heightened fears among Americans that the Soviets may be able to use their space advancements to begin a nuclear war.

In October, 1958, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created. This American agency was a response to Soviet development, American fears, and the American desire to advance further than the Soviets. The space race was on!

Missions Project Mercury Initiated in 1958, completed in 1963, Project Mercury was the United States' first man-in-space program.  The objectives of the program, which made six manned flights from 1961 to 1963, were specific: To orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth; To investigate man's ability to function in space; To recover both man and spacecraft safely. Mission Patches

Project Gemini Major Objectives * To subject man and equipment to space flight up to two weeks in duration; To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles and to maneuver the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system; * To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere and landing at a pre-selected point on land. Its goals were also met, with the exception of a land landing, which was cancelled in 1964.

Project Apollo Apollo's goals went beyond landing Americans on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth: * To establish the technology to meet other national interests in space; * To achieve preeminence in space for the United States; * To carry out a program of scientific exploration of the Moon; and * To develop man's capability to work in the lunar environment.

Project Skylab America's first experimental space station. Designed for long duration mission, Skylab program objectives were twofold: To prove that humans could live and work in space for extended periods, and to expand our knowledge of solar astronomy well beyond Earth-based observations.

Apollo Soyuz Mission The first International Space Flight! This mission was a symbolic end to the nearly 20-year-long Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The mission was designed primarily to establish and test space-based rescue techniques needed by both the American and Soviet manned space programs. Science experiments would be conducted, and logistics involved in carrying out joint space operations between the two nations developed and refined.

Space Shuttle a.k.a. Space Transportation System (STS) The winged Shuttle Orbiter is launched vertically, usually carrying five to seven astronauts and up to 50,000 lb (22 700 kg) of payload into low earth orbit. When its mission is complete, the Shuttle can independently move itself out of orbit (by means of its maneuvering thrusters) and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. During descent and landing, the Shuttle Orbiter acts as a glider and makes a completely unpowered landing. The Shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to achieve orbit and land, and the only reusable space vehicle that has ever made multiple flights into orbit. Its missions involve carrying large payloads to various orbits (including segments to be added to the International Space Station), providing crew rotation for the International Space Station, and performing service missions.

Your Assignment Choose one event, development, or aspect of the space race and become an expert on it through your research. The following slides provide excellent websites.

Good Research Sites A Giant Leap For Mankind http://www.life.com/Life/space/giantleap/ Go to the Virtual Space Museum http://vsm.host.ru/emain.htm Go to The Apollo Program http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/apollo/apollo.htm

How to Proceed Write a news article on your chosen topic. Be creative and report as if you were living and writing just after the event occurred. Use a newspaper format and include photos captured from the Internet. Be sure to give proper credit for photos used in your article. See your handout for a template and guidelines!