Space Race Flashcards
When was Sputnik launched?
Sputnik 1957 – Sputnik 1 satellite launched October 4. Laika, a stray dog, boarded Sputnik 2 which was launched on November 3 1957.
How did the US respond to Sputnik?
Dec 6 1957 – Project Vanguard’s launch at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Exploded a few seconds after launch and dubbed ‘Kaputnik.’ On January 31 1958, Juno 1 rocket launched from US Army’s Redstone missile at Cape Canaveral. Could measure radiation/cosmic ray levels and temperature.
When did the USSR send the first woman to space?
Valentina Tereshkova was launched into space on Vostok 6 in June 1963 for propaganda value, USSR sent first woman to space.
Why did the joint US-USSR program not follow?
Sept 20 1963 – Kennedy proposed to the United Nations General Assembly a joint US-USSR program. Khrushchev was poised to accept but distrusted successor Lyndon B Johnson.
How was NASA set?
On July 29 1958 the National Aeronautics and Space Act passed establishing NASA, signed by Eisenhower into law.
Who were the first men who entered space?
On April 12 1961 Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in Vostok 1, the first cosmonaut. He road the craft on automatic control. On May 5 1961 Alan Shephard was the first American in space, launched on Freedom 7. He didn’t achieve orbit but was first to exercise manual control over spacecraft.On February 20 1962, a year after the USSR did it, John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth.
How did Kennedy respond after Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth?
On May 25 1961 Kennedy addressed Congress with a ‘Special Message on Urgent National Needs,’ and made his ‘we choose to go to the Moon,’ speech on September 12 1962 at Rice University Stadium in Houston, Texas, justifying the benefits of the Apollo program and advancements it would make in science. Khrushchev didn’t deny he was pushing a moon race. The US was humiliated by being behind.
What was the Outer Space treaty?
In 1967 the UN passed an Outer Space Treaty in 1967 as promoted by Johnson to ban party States from placing weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, on the Moon, or any other celestial body, and limiting the Moon and celestial bodies for peaceful purposes. Testing banned.
What problem did Apollo face in early 1967?
On January 27 1967 crew on first manned Apollo mission killed in a fire which swept through the cabin on a ground test. Crew couldn’t escape when a spark caused fire to spread rapidly.
What was the first Soviet casualty in 1967?
Soyuz 1 in 1967 had 200 design flaws and insufficient electrical power. During a launch, attitude system failed and Komarov failed to escape, leading to his death.
How did the USSR’s N1 failure give the US a win in the race to the moon?
On July 1969, the Soviet N1 rocket destroyed itself and the launch facility, meaning that the USSR did not have a large enough payload to send a man to the moon. In July Apollo 11 was prepared. On July 20, Armstrong was the first man to reach the moon.
