The Space Race

1. The Space Race

2. What was the space race? • The space race was a race between the United States and the Soviet Union to explore outer space. • Many Americans felt that it would be dangerous to lose this race. • They realized that if the Soviets could work or travel in space, they could easily spy on or attack the United States.

3. Sputnik • On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched a satellite named Sputnik into outer space. • It was sent into space to circle Earth.

4. US Catches Up • The United States had clearly fallen behind in the space race. • The US worked very hard and quickly, and launched its first satellite in January1958. • Then, in October of 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA was founded to promote US space exploration projects.

5. NASA • NASA launched the first successful weather satellite in 1960. • Meanwhile, in April 1961 Yuri Gargarin became the first person to orbit (circle) the Earth. • February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.

6. Friendship 7 • John Glenn’s spacecraft was named Friendship 7. • More than 60 million Americans watched the launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida which stayed in space for 4 hours and 48 minutes.

7. Telstar 1 • The US and the Soviet Union continued to build and test new rockets and satellites. It was discovered that satellites could be used for communication. • The US satellite Telstar 1 relayed the first transatlantic telecast in 1962.

8. Apollo 11 • On July 16, 1969, the American spaceship Apollo 11 blasted off carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins. • While Collins circled the moon in Apollo 11, Armstrong and Aldrin guided the Eagle, a small, specially designed spacecraft, down to the moon’s surface. • They became the first people to walk on the moon.

9. Apollo 11

10. US Takes the Lead • With the success of Apollo 11, the United States had taken the lead in the space race. • The space race continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, but space exploration continues today. • The International Space Station is an orbiting station on which American and astronauts from former Soviet countries now explore space as friends.

11. Group Activity • Move back to you seats. • Work with your shoulder partner to make sure you have answered all questions. • You will have three minutes to do this.

12. Ticket-Out-the-Door • 1.) What was the space race? • 2.) How did the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States fuel the space race?