COLD WAR – THE SPACE RACE

BEGINNING TO THE SPACE RACE The Space Race grew out of the Cold War between the UNITED STATES and the SOVIET UNION, the most powerful nations after World War II. For a half-century, the two superpowers competed to be the best in the field of space exploration. The race began because both countries wanted to be able to fire weapons across the ocean (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles aka ICBMs), put satellites into space to spy on each other, and to show scientific excellence by putting a man on the MOON.

1957 The Russians fired the first satellite into space. SPUTNIK I was a 60cm metal sphere that went into orbit some 560 miles up, and at a speed of 18,000 mph it was completing one circuit (one rotation around the Earth) every hour and 36 minutes. It weighed 184 pounds and carried a radio transmitter.

1958 The newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected seven men to become the first astronauts in the history of the United States. The US also put their first satellite into orbit.

1961 On April 12, 1961, the Soviets successfully launched Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin into space. HE WAS THE FIRST HUMAN IN SPACE. On May 5, 1961, the U.S. sent astronaut Alan Shepard into space. He made a 15-minute flight. In July 1961, Gus Grissom became the second US astronaut to go into space orbit. He circled Earth in 108 minutes and landed safely. In August 1961, a second Soviet space flight lasted for 25 hours, circled the globe 16 times, and landed safely. The Russians were ahead of the USA.

1962 On February 20, astronaut John Glenn was launched into space. He was the first American to ORBIT THE EARTH. Eventually his heat shield failed, and despite the heat Glenn survived and made it back to Earth. He was given a hero’s welcome in Washington.

The Soviets continue their successes in space, launching the first woman into space. They also sent up the first three-man crew, as well as completing the first spacewalk. The Russians have the clear.

1967 TRAGEDY for the US: the crew of Apollo 1 — Gus Grissom, Edward White II, and Roger Chaffee — are killed in a fire on the launch pad. TRAGEDY for the Soviet Union: On April 23, the Soviets experience the death of a cosmonaut when his spacecraft's re-entry parachute fails.

1969 On JULY 20, the United States, behind the Apollo 11 mission led by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, LAND HUMANS ON THE MOON. The ultimate Space Race mission is achieved by the Americans.

TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED DURING THE SPACE RACE 1. Satellite TV Modern life would be almost unthinkable without having hundreds of TV channels to keep us entertained - and it's NASA we have to thank. 2. Laptops The Shuttle Portable Onboard Computer (SPOC) made its debut in 1983, helping astronauts on board the space shuttle to carry out space navigation and other onboard functions and was designed to be tough and powerful. 3. The Dustbuster Although the first cordless power tool was invented by US firm Black and Decker in 1961, it was NASA who asked the company to develop a battery-powered drill astronauts could use to collect rock samples from the moon. 4. Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors Now used to detect gas leaks in many of our homes, this was originally developed to detect toxic fumes and fire on board the Skylab space station in the early 1970s. 5. Telemedicine From programmable pacemakers to blood pressure monitors, the space program has been responsible for dozens of healthcare applications all designed to help astronauts stay healthy. 6. The joystick Next time you're enjoying a good waggle in front of your PC, spare a thought for the scientists at NASA who invented the joystick in the first place.

TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED DURING THE SPACE RACE 7. 3D graphics and virtual reality NASA was also instrumental in the development of 3D graphics, virtual reality and flight simulators, chiefly because it needed a way to visualise space- based environments here on earth. The smooth landing on the moon achieved by astronauts onboard the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) was largely the results of hours of practice using flight simulators. 8. Non-reflective displays If you find high gloss displays on laptops and desktops a bit icky (thank you, Apple), at least you get hold of the alternative - monitors and TV screens with a non-reflective coating that enables you to see what's on screen without peering at your own mug. 9. Ear thermometers Anyone who's ever had to take a child's temperature will appreciate this space race spinoff. Ear thermometers use infra-red technology originally developed by NASA to measure the temperature of stars. 10. Satellite navigation NASA can't take the credit for inventing the Global Positioning System (GPS), but it arguably had a big hand in the device that sits on your dash. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed Global Differential GPS, which enables vehicles to be placed in three dimensional space with accuracy down to one meter.