The document outlines the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. It describes how the Soviets launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, in 1957, shocking the US and spurring increased investment in science and technology. While the US attempted to launch Vanguard soon after, it failed, embarrassing the nation. This kicked off intense competition as both superpowers sought to demonstrate dominance through achievements in space exploration.

1. SPACE RACE
Soviet Union vs. America

2. Brinkmanship
 Both the US and the
USSR are building up
supplies of weapons
and to threaten each
other.
 This is the basis for the
space race, or
competition to be the
most advanced in
terms of space
exploration.

3. Soviets are lagging behind
 Even though the US
and the USSR were
both considered to be
superpowers the Soviet
Union was clearly
behind.
 The US had
created/exploded an
atomic bomb (1945)
and a hydrogen bomb
(1952) before they did.

4. Soviets play catch up.
 On October 4, 1957
the Soviet Union
launched the first
ever satellite called
Sputnik.
 Sputnik looked like a
beach ball. It
weighed 183 pounds
and orbited the earth
once every 96
minutes.

5. America Reacts!
 The US was shocked and
alarmed.
 We felt as though we had
failed by not beating the
Soviets to a rocket
launch.
 The US immediately
began pouring money
into math, science,
technology and foreign
language education.

6. Flopnik
 The US immediately got to work on our
space program.
 On December 6, 1957 we attempted to
launch Vanguard, a 3.5 pound satellite.
 Vanguard did not successfully launch
and in fact burned up on the launch
pad.
 Vanguard and the beginnings of the US
space program were mocked. This set
the stage for a heavy focus in space.

7. The race is on!
 The US kept pushing
and in January 1958
we successfully
launched our first
rocket.
 The Soviet Union
continued to beat us at
almost every aspect of
space exploration until
July 20, 1969 when we
made the first manned
lunar landing!

8. Open Skies
 President Eisenhower
proposed an “open skies”
policy between the US
and the USSR.
 This policy would allow
Soviet planes to fly over
the US and vice versa to
guard against surprise
nuclear attacks.
 The Soviet Union refused
to participate in this.

9. U – 2 Incident
 Since the Soviets refused
to allow US planes to fly
over the CIA decided to
use high altitude U-2 spy
planes.
 In May 1960 the Soviets
shot down a U-2 spy
plane and captured the
pilot.
 They eventually released
him, but this made for
tense relations between
the US and the Soviet
Union and a lot of
mistrust.

10. U – 2 Incident
 Since the Soviets refused
to allow US planes to fly
over the CIA decided to
use high altitude U-2 spy
planes.
 In May 1960 the Soviets
shot down a U-2 spy
plane and captured the
pilot.
 They eventually released
him, but this made for
tense relations between
the US and the Soviet
Union and a lot of
mistrust.