Superpower Rivalry: the Arms Race and Space Race

Question 1

arms race time line

Answer 1

1949 - soviets successfully tested their first atomic bomb
1950 - Britain began testing atomic bombs in WA
1952 - america began to develop and test the first hydrogen bomb
1953 - soviets have developed their own hydrogen bomb
1955 - US doctrine of massive retaliation
1957 - USSR develops first ICBM
1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis - 13 days of extreme tension
1963 - partial test ban treaty is signed
1968 - US develops the Multiple Independent Re-entry vehicle, a missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads
USSR develops an anti-ballistic missile system capable of shooting down US missiles

Question 2

result of the arms race

Answer 2

by 1960s, a policy of MAD was recognised
perpetuated by the idea of nuclear deterrence
led to significant military spending, particularly in the US which channelled money away from domestic problems
resulted in an industrial military complex which led to increasing influence of the defence industry on government policy and the military
displayed the need for collective security through pacts like NATO and Warsaw

Question 3

space race timeline

Answer 3

1957 - Soviets launched Sputnik 1 - the first artificial satellite to be launched into space
later in the year, hey launched Sputnik 2 which contained a dog named Laika
Satellites were launched using ICBMs
1959 - USSR launches Luna, the first satellite to orbit the sun. USA responds with the launch of Pioneer 4 which flies past the moon - matched by Luna 2
US captures a photo of earth from orbit with Explorer 6
1960 - Discover 13 becomes the first spy-satellite
1961 - USSR sends the first man to space with Yuri Gragarin. Later that year, US sends Alan Shepard
1963 - USSR sends the first woman into space - Valentina Tershkova
1969 - Apollo 11 lands on the moon
1975 - joint USA/USSR Apollo/Soyuz mission conducted an international mission that came to symbolise detente

Question 4

sputnik quote

Answer 4

“Sputnik inspired humanity to remove its earthly shackles and initiated a chain of events that continues to unfold today” - Wright, 2007