Space Race

The Space Race, an informal competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, lasted roughly from 1957 to 1975. It involved the parallel efforts by each of those countries to explore outer space with artificial satellites, to send humans into space, and to land people on the moon.

Historical background

Early military influences

Rockets have interested scientists and amateurs for at least 2,100 years. The Chinese used them as weapons as early as the 11th century. Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky theorized in the 1880s on multi-stage, liquid fuel rockets which might reach space, but only in 1926 did the American Robert Goddard design a practical liquid-fuel rocket.

Related Topics:
Rocket - Chinese - 11th century - Konstantin Tsiolkovsky - 1880s - Liquid fuel - 1926 - Robert Goddard

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Goddard performed his work on rocketry in obscurity, as the scientific community, the public, and even The New York Times scoffed at him. It took war to catapult rocketry into notoriety. This proved a harbinger for the future, as any "space race" would become inextricably linked to military ambitions of the countries involved, despite its mostly scientific character and peaceful rhetoric.

Related Topics:
The New York Times - Military

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German contributions

In the mid-1920s, German scientists had begun experimenting with rockets powered by liquid propellants that were capable of reaching relatively high altitudes and distances. In 1932, the Reichswehr, predecessor of the Wehrmacht, took an interest in rocketry for long-range artillery fire. Wernher von Braun, an aspiring rocket scientist, joined the effort and developed such weapons for Nazi Germany's use in World War II. Von Braun borrowed heavily from Robert Goddard's original research, studying and improving on Goddard's rockets.

Related Topics:
1920s - German - 1932 - Reichswehr - Wehrmacht - Artillery - Wernher von Braun - Nazi Germany - World War II

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The German A-4 Rocket, launched in 1942, became the first such projectile to reach space. In 1943, Germany began production of its successor, the V-2 rocket, with a range of 300 km (185 miles) and carrying a 1000 kg (2200 lb) warhead. The Wehrmacht fired thousands of V-2s at Allied nations, causing massive damage and loss of life. However, more slave labourors were killed in the production of V2s than were killed by them in attacks.

Related Topics:
1942 - 1943 - V-2 rocket - Warhead - Allied

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As World War II drew to a close, Soviet, British, and U.S. military and scientific crews raced to capture technology and trained personnel from the German rocket program installation at Peenemünde. The USSR and Britain had some success, but the United States arguably benefited most, taking a large number of German rocket scientists – many of them members of the Nazi Party, including von Braun – from Germany to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip. There scientists adapted the German rockets -- intended for use against Britain -- to other uses.

Related Topics:
British - Peenemünde - Nazi Party - Operation Paperclip

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Post-war scientists turned to rockets to study high-altitude conditions (via radio-telemetry of temperature and pressure of the atmosphere), cosmic rays, and other topics. This continued under von Braun and his colleagues, who became part of the U.S. scientific complex.

Related Topics:
Telemetry - Atmosphere - Cosmic ray

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Cold War roots of the Space Race

After World War II the United States and the Soviet Union became locked in a bitter Cold War of espionage and propaganda. Space exploration and satellite technology could feed into the cold war on both fronts. Satellite-borne equipment could spy on other countries, while space-faring accomplishments could serve as propaganda to tout a country's scientific prowess and military potential. The same rockets that might send a human into orbit or hit a specific spot on the Moon could send an atom bomb to a specific enemy city. Much of the technological development required for space travel applied equally well to wartime rockets such as Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Along with other aspects of the arms race, progress in space appeared as an indicator of technological and economic prowess, demonstrating the superiority of the ideology of that country. Space research had a dual purpose: it could serve peaceful ends, but could also contribute to military goals.

Related Topics:
Cold War - Espionage - Propaganda - Satellite - Atom bomb - Intercontinental ballistic missile - Dual purpose

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The two superpowers each worked to gain an edge in space research, neither knowing who might make a breakthrough first. They had each laid the groundwork for a race to space, and awaited only the starter's gun.

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