Space Race, Sputnik & the U-2 incident By: Andrew Nickerson Zach Granillo

The Space Race The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and United States president John F. Kennedy both wanted to prove their scientific superiority. Both countries believed that conquering outer space was very important. The ultimate goal of both countries was to get to the moon first. “No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space. And none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish." --- John F. Kennedy about sending astronauts to the moon.

Launch of Satellites On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik I The United States launched a satellite called Explorer I on January 31, 1958. Sputnik Explorer

Sputnik I 22.8 inches in diameter 183.9 pounds in weight The Sputnik took 1 hour and 38 minutes to orbit the earth. Immediately after the launch of the Sputnik, the U.S. increased funding in schools for math and science in order to keep up with the Soviet Union.

NASA In 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was formed in the United States.

People In Space Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit the Earth in 1961 Later, Alan Shepard, Jr. became the first American astronaut in space. In 1962, John Glenn, Jr. became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth. The first woman to reach space was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.

Yuri Gagarin Alan Shepard John Glenn Valentina Tereshkova

Man On The Moon!!! In 1969, U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins made it to the moon. Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon and was followed by Buzz Aldrin. By reaching the moon first, the U.S. had won the space race.

U-2 Incident On May 1, 1960 a U.S. spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was flying over Russia and was shot down. Powers’ mission was to take aerial photos of two major missile test sites in the Soviet Union. The incident sparked a verbal battle between the Soviet Union and the U.S. This led to the collapse of the Paris Summit at the height of the Cold War.

Closure What was Sputnik and why was it important? Describe the U-2 Incident. Who do you think won the space race?

Works Cited http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/sputnik.html http://www.newseum.org/cybernewseum/exhibits/dateline_moon/space.htm http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7644