The Space Race

The Cold War Goes to Space

The U.S. and Soviet Union were in a great battle to win the Cold War and gain an advantage over the other. In the late 1950's they began competing to gain an advantage in outer space. Rockets were sent into space and then the Soviets successfully launched Sputnik, a satellite into space. So why did the countries so desperately want to win the space race? The possibilities were endless. Maybe people could live on the moon and it could become a new territory. Perhaps nuclear weapons could be fired from space. The ability to put satellites into space might help countries spy on other countries, but the greatest reason both countries wanted to win the space race, was fear. They were both afraid of what might happen if the other country gained control of space. Click here for a brief kid friendly timeline of the space race. You can learn all about the space race by visiting PBS Space Race site.

What was Gained from the Space Race?

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Lets take a look at what came from the space race. Here are a couple of the biggest benefits of the space race.
  • Satellites--There are now thousands of satellites in space and most people don't give them a second thought. It is those satellites that allow so much of modern technology to work including cell phones, GPS and a host of other technology.
  • Weapons and defense technology--The space program has greatly strengthened our ability to defend our country and also cause troubles for our enemies.

Space Race Video from History.com

Here is a quick recap of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.