Cold War Context
What was the Cold War?
A time when the USA and USSR competed in many areas, including ideas and technology.
What was Sputnik, and why was it important?
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957.
What is a satellite?
A satellite is an object that orbits Earth, like Sputnik
The United States president who challenged the country to land a man on the Moon.
President Kennedy
Why was the Space Race part of the Cold War?
The Space Race showed which country was better at science and technology.
Who was the first human to travel into space?
Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, orbiting Earth in 1961.
Name one kind of spacecraft used during the Space Race.
Space capsules like Mercury (USA) and Vostok (USSR) carried astronauts.
Who was Neil Armstrong, and what did he do?
Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon, in 1969.
What were the USA and USSR competing to prove during the Cold War?
They were trying to prove their system (capitalism or communism) was better.
What was the Apollo 11 moon landing, and why was it significant?
The Apollo 11 mission put humans on the moon in 1969, showing U.S. dominance in space.
How did rockets help space exploration?
Rockets helped spacecraft leave Earth’s atmosphere and reach space.
Who was Yuri Gagarin, and why is he famous?
Yuri Gagarin was the first human to orbit Earth, in 1961.
How did the Space Race increase tensions between the USA and USSR?
The Space Race increased tension by showing how advanced each side’s weapons and tech were.
The year the space race ended
1975
What is space technology, and why was it important during the Cold War?
Space technology helped each side develop weapons and advanced communication systems.
Name a leader from the Soviet Union during the Space Race.
Nikita Khrushchev
Why did the USA and USSR see space as so important during the Cold War?
Both wanted to show their way of life (democracy or communism) was the strongest.
What event is considered the start of the Space Race, and why?
Sputnik’s launch in 1957, which made the USA realize it needed to catch up in space tech.
How did Space Race technology lead to things we use today?
Space Race tech led to satellites (GPS), better computers, and new materials like Teflon.
Who was an important scientist or engineer in the Space Race?
Wernher von Braun