Space Race

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States were locked into a bitter battle of military positioning and propaganda known as the Cold War. Stemming from this, as technology advancements showed the world the military capabilities of space exploration, the two nations began a fierce competition to rule space. The writer notes that while the competition was closely aligned with the arms race between the two countries during the Cold War, space technology also became an important part of the technological, cultural, ideological, and military rivalry between the two countries. The writer points out that while the space race developed from a vicious Cold War, the race ended in cooperation between two powerful nations. The writer then concludes that while the space race certainly advanced technology far beyond what would have occurred without such competition, the race also fostered and developed the technological, cultural, ideological, and military mindsets of both countries forever.

Outline:
Abstract
References

From the Paper:

"Space exploration clearly offered numerous solutions to these issues for both superpowers. Space exploration and satellites could, scientists and military annalists believed, be used to spy on other countries, gathering photographic and location specific information regarding any technologies, military movements, or weapon storage. Additionally, the leaders of these countries believed that to beat the other to space would promote a concept of superiority, prowess, and military superiority. As the development of rocket technology increased, and as that technology advanced, space exploration became a feasible goal.
In 1947, the citizens of the United States had one of their first experiences with space, further fueling the flames for the Space Race. In July of that year, farmers in Roswell, NM discovered a crash site nearly three-fourths of a mile in width, consisting of metal, and other unfamiliar debris. A local sheriff called the military, who declared a few days later that a "flying disk" had crashed. Shortly thereafter, the statement was retracted, and replaced with stories of a downed weather balloon."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beischer, Deitrich E. and Fregly, Alfred R. "Animals and Man in Space." A Chronology and Annotated Bibliography Through the Year 1960, ACR-64 (USNSAM Monograph 5), Dept. of the Navy, p. 53.
• Bulkeley, Rip. The Sputniks Crisis and Early United States Space Policy: A Critique of the Historiography of Space. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1991.
• Cotright, Edgar M. Apollo Expeditions to the Moon. Washington, D.C.: NASA, 1975.
• Department of Defense. National Defense Education Act. 2006. Department of Defense. 14 March 2007. <http://www.dod.mil/ddre/ndea.htm>.
• Eisenhower, Dwight D. The White House Years; Waging Peace, 1956-1961. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1965.

More papers on Space Race:

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