Space Race
The Space Race was a competition between the United States and the Soviet Union for supremacy in space exploration. Each of their first goals were to be the first ones in space but his had to be done by first launching a satellite into space. This was first accomplished by the Soviet Union when they launched Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957. The United states were very shocked about this and starting having fears and implications. But they reacted by having the National Defense Education Act. This act provided funding to the US education institutions at all levels. They did this because the US scientists were behind the Soviet Unions scientists and needed to catch up.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or otherwise known as NASA, was established July 29, 1958. Their responsibility was for the nations civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Their goals are to extend human activities across the solar system and try to expand the knowledge and understanding of Earth and the universe.
In that year on February 1,1958 is when the United States successfully launched their first satellite called Explorer 1 in orbit. Just when the US and Soviet Union are even with the race, the soviet goes ahead on April 12, 1961 and puts a human, Yuri Gagarin, to be the first ever in space. Then a month later on May 5, 1958 the US sends their first American, Alan Shepard, into to space. Then on February 20, 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit earth. Two years later Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to be in space. After all the competing with each other, John F. kennedy declared in May 1961, that " the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade." This idea succeeded with NASA's Apollo 11 mission in 1969. This was the space flight to land the first humans on the moon which ended the space race and fulfilled the national goal.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or otherwise known as NASA, was established July 29, 1958. Their responsibility was for the nations civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Their goals are to extend human activities across the solar system and try to expand the knowledge and understanding of Earth and the universe.
In that year on February 1,1958 is when the United States successfully launched their first satellite called Explorer 1 in orbit. Just when the US and Soviet Union are even with the race, the soviet goes ahead on April 12, 1961 and puts a human, Yuri Gagarin, to be the first ever in space. Then a month later on May 5, 1958 the US sends their first American, Alan Shepard, into to space. Then on February 20, 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit earth. Two years later Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to be in space. After all the competing with each other, John F. kennedy declared in May 1961, that " the United States would put a man on the moon before the end of the decade." This idea succeeded with NASA's Apollo 11 mission in 1969. This was the space flight to land the first humans on the moon which ended the space race and fulfilled the national goal.