Published and Created by:
Earth and Space Sciences
+4 Age Levels Middle School (13 to 15 years old)
The Soviet launch of Sputnik did much more than simply send a satellite into space. The announcement that the USSR had successfully launched a satellite that orbited the Earth was used to dramatize Soviet scientific superiority and set into motion a series of actions and statements by U.S. politicians designed to manage the public's fears and prevent the United States from falling behind.
Guiding questions:
-When it comes to military strength, which is more important: reality or perception?
-How do the sciences impact national defense?
-Why was a space program considered important and necessary for both the Soviet Union and the United States?
-How and why do foreign events impact domestic politics and culture?
Tags: Wilson Center, Cold War, Space Race, Sputnik, Technology, Soviet Union, USSR, Communism
Sputnik: Scientific Advances, Public Perception, and Political Priorities in the Cold War
- Created by:
- Kate Harris
- Date Published
- July 20, 2016
- Last Modified
- November 06, 2021
- Description
-
The Soviet launch of Sputnik did much more than simply send a satellite into space. The announcement that the USSR had successfully launched a satellite that orbited the Earth was used to dramatize Soviet scientific superiority and set into motion a series of actions and statements by U.S. politicians designed to manage the public's fears and prevent the United States from falling behind. Guiding questions: -When it comes to military strength, which is more important: reality or perception? -How do the sciences impact national defense? -Why was a space program considered important and necessary for both the Soviet Union and the United States? -How and why do foreign events impact domestic politics and culture? Tags: Wilson Center, Cold War, Space Race, Sputnik, Technology, Soviet Union, USSR, Communism
- Notes to Other Users
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This collection is closely based on learning resources created by the Cold War International History Project (CWIHP), hosted at the Wilson Center. For more about the project and access to other Cold War primary sources, please visit their website: http://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/
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