The Space Race
The Space Race is the tale between the USSR, USA and China racing to get to the moon. This class primarily covers the democracy and communism and how the differences fueled the need to establish power through technology. The class covers the Cold War, new technology and the moon landing.
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Welcome!
Welcome to The Space Race, the sixth class in the American Cultural Literacy course.
This video show the Moon Landing on July 20, 1969. Landing on the moon was, the goal everyone wanted to ahieve, broadcast on every television in the world.
How did we get here?
The Reason
Why do you think he astronauts wanted to get to space? When we asked we asked children this question, they said, "curiosity," and "because they wanted to go." Why do YOU think?
Agenda
This session consists of four main topics:
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Satellites
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First astronauts
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Moon landing
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The end of the Cold War
The Real Reason
There were tensions between the USA and USSR after World War II due to the United States' refusal of the idea of communism.
Communism
Communism was the basis of the USSR government, the idea that everyone should be give the same things, the same breaks, the same everything. This concept was in direct conflict with the concept of democracy.
Democracy
This is the basis of the American government, the idea that people have a say in what goes on. There's not one person who decides everything. The people have a voice.
The Cold War
This is what you call without any of the armed conflict. This particular Cold War was between the USSR and the USA and it fueled the Space Race.
The Cold War Continued
While weapons were not used against one another, there was a push to develop better and more powerful weapons than the other side had. Worried that the other side had better weapons, there were many spies on both side of the Cold War.
The Space Race Begins
The USSR launched the first satellite, Sputnik 1.
What is a satellite?
When we asked the students what a satellite is, they said, "a satellite is a machine that collects data" which is partially true. But most students didn't quite understood how they worked or what the basic job of a satellite is.
So what is a satellite?
Basically? Satellites must orbit or they aren't considered a satellite. They collect information or are used for communication.
Simplified explanation
Students found this simplified definition easier to understand.
Uses of satellites
Most satellites acts as a midpoint for television signals. Television signals travel in a straight line. The earth is curved so television signals can't travel around the globe. Instead, they have to go into space and come back down ensuring television signals can go cross continent or cross country.
Other uses
Satellites are also used for weather prediction. They can spot a storm and predict where they might hit based on where they're traveling. Another use is navigation. Satellites get a good image of the whole world so they can track you while you're on your journey. Telephone signals also behave in a similar way as television signals so satellites let you have phone calls with people on the other side of the globe.
But...
Instead of seeing satellites for their uses, the USA saw them as a threat as missiles could be launched using the same technology as that which is used to launch satellites.
Rockets
Rockets are what launched satellites into space. To help children understand them (and to have a little fun) we did two things with rockets.
1. Finger rockets
Children "raced" to see whose rocket went furthest
2. Rocket thrusters they built
Children built their own rockets and then raced to see whose rocket went highest
The First Astronauts
The very first astronauts were animals. Laika, the dog, and Albert II, the monkey. These animals were testers to ensure when humans got into space they wouldn't die. Children were concerned about what happened to the animals. The animals were sleeping when they took off so there was no stress for them. They did not return to earth.
First Humans in Space
The first human launched into space was USSR astronaut, Yuri Alekseyevich. At this point in time, the US was not even close to where the USSR was in the Space Race. This event really scared the US which motivated the United States to work harder on space technology.
Space Food
We asked students what kind of food they thought the astronauts ate. Most of them had heard about liquid in a pouch, but not really freeze-dried food technology.
Freeze-dried Ice Cream
Students all got to sample freeze-dried ice cream. Some liked it more than others!
The Quest to the Moon
The US – seeing just how badly they were losing the technology race – needed to do something snazzy. What would they have done to put the USSR in their place and establish victory in the Cold War?
The Quest to the Moon
John F Kennedy, the President of the US, declared the mission to the moon to try to and get to the moon within a decade which was much, much more ambitious than the previous target.
Landing on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, the US landed the moon.
Due to the combination of television now being accessible by many across the globe and the amazing event of the moon landing, everybody watched it. An estimated 650 million viewers watched the first steps on the Moon.
Behind the Scenes
Not only did the astronauts have to do the work, the people behind the scenes had to work hard, too. At NASA HQ in Houston, scientists were controlling the ship and they needed and extreme amount of team work.
In this activity, students worked together to carry a water bottle with string. If one person messed up, the mission would fail. So you needed a lot of respect and teamwork to make sure the water bottle (aka spaceship) landed safely.
The Soviets Defeat
The USSR congratulated the US and themselves through one final mission to build a space station jointly. Apollo–Soyuz was the first crewed international space mission, carried out jointly by the United States and the Soviet Union in July 1975. Millions of people around the world watched on television as a United States Apollo spacecraft docked with a Soviet Union Soyuz capsule.
Apollo 13
Why was Apollo 13 so famous? Well, not all space missions went smoothly. Learn what went wrong with Apollo 13 and how people worked together to save it.
This is actual footage from 1970 and the Apollo 13 mission. "Houston, we've got a problem" is a famous saying that came out of this mission. Apollo 13 is an example of how people on the ground and astronauts working in space were able to save the day.
Famous Picture
This is the first image people on Earth ever saw from space. It's called, "Earthrise."
When the world saw its home for the very first time, people were driven to protect it. Although climate change and the enhanced greenhouse effect were not popularized then, people still felt a need to unite.
Review
Satellites were seen as a threat as they used the same technology to launch as missiles used.
Review
The first astronaut was Laika, the dog, followed by Albert II, the monkey.
Review
Yuri was launched into space at a time that the US wasn't even close to having the same technology.
Review
The Space Race ended when the US landed on the moon. However, space exploration continues.
Review
This word search is also a great review!!
Photos of our Class
Click the arrow to scroll through images of the day. Click on any one photo to see it in full frame.