Factors
What was the chronological backdrop of the space race?
The Cold War
Which two astronauts were the first to walk on the moon?
Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
What term was coined towards African-American women who studied/analyzed data with mechanical calculators?
Coloured-computers
How did the extensive media coverage and celebration of Space Race milestones influence public perception?
It fueled public fascination and a sense of national pride.
Name three pieces of technology that came out of the space race!
GPS systems, Cordless power tools, food safety protocols, modern cameras, CAT scans, LEDs, Smoke detectors, baby formulas, Portable computers, and more
What was President John F. Kennedy's promise in 1961?
To have the first man (American) walking on the moon by the end of the decade.
What country launched the world's first communications satellite?
The United States of America
What was the cause for the segregation of women in NACA being abolished?
NACA was incorporated into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which banned the segregation of women.
In what ways did depictions of space travel and futuristic technology in popular culture reflect the real-life accomplishments of the space programs?
They were directly inspired by and reflective of the real-life space program accomplishments.
What year was NASA established?
1958
In hindsight, what were the three primary contributors that sparked the space race?
Nationalism/Publicity movements
Post WWII tensions between global superpowers
The Cold War
How many astronauts perished in the year 1967?
Four
Who was a key figure in developing/programming the first electronic computers at NASA?
Dorothy Vaughan
What three technological advancements were made during the space race?
It drove rapid advancements in rocket technology, materials science, and computing
What were the two psychological reactions that the global public expressed under new developments of rocket technology?
Assuredness when in the lead, and fear for when another global superpower surpassed their own developments.
What were the two successors of the German V-2 missile
The Viking, and the R-7
What was the name of the first Earth-orbiting satellite in history?
Sputnik-1
Katherine Johnson was the author/co-author of how many research reports during her career?
26
What was the largest demographic interested in STEM careers during the space race?
The space race inspired many young people, especially in the US, to pursue STEM careers.
What was the change in mindset over time from the start of the space race into the modern day?
It has transitioned from geopolitical competition to global scientific and technological partnerships.
In response to a major development within the USSR, President Eisenhower announced that America would develop their own technology to study the Earth. What technological breakthrough was being developed?
Both countries announced that they would be placing satellites in orbit for the 1957-58 geophysical year. This marks the official "start" of the space race.
Who was the first civilian and woman in space?
Valentina Tereshkova
What astronaut requested Katherine Johnson to run numbers after finding that they couldn't trust an answer from the electronic computer?
John Glenn
What was the largest geopolitical breakthrough of the Apollo-Soyuz mission?
It set the stage for further international cooperation in space exploration between the United States and the USSR.
Mary Jackson entered into a training program to become ______, what caused her to register?
She wanted to become an engineer which was suggested to her by Kazimierz Czarnecki