|
|
The
Space Race
For over a decade, the United States and the
Soviet Union were engaged in a heated competition—the
space race. The space race began in 1957 when the Soviet Union
launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik. The Soviet
leader Nikita Khrushchev and the American presidents Dwight
Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon
all agreed that conquering outer space was very important.
Both countries wanted to win—to prove their scientific
superiority and to show their military strength.
 Soviet
Premier Khrushchev wanted to show that communist technology
was superior. President Kennedy wanted to beat the Soviets
to the moon. Speaking about the prospect of sending astronauts
to the moon in 1961, Kennedy said, "No single space project
in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more
important for the long-range exploration of space. And none
will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish." |
|
Landing on the Moon as a Story
of the Century
Make sure you vote for the Story of the Century,
either at the Newseum or online at www.newseum.org.
Do you think Americans landing on the moon was the most
important news story of the century? Astronauts’
walking on the moon was a major news event, widely
covered by television reporters and newspaper journalists.
However, many other important events occurred during
this century, such as major discoveries, wars, celebrations
and tragedies.
 What
news event do you think is the Story of the
Century?
What
story do you think journalists might vote for
the Story of the Century?
|
|
Space
Race Timeline: Events Leading up to Americans Walking on the Moon
1957
|
|
The
Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial Earth
satellite. "Sputnik" is the Russian word for
"Traveler." |
1958
|
|
The
United States launches its first satellite, Explorer I. |
|
 |
 |
 The
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is formed
in the United States. NASA is the federal agency devoted to
exploring space. |
1959
| |
The
Soviet Union launches Luna 2. This is the first space probe
to hit the moon. |
1961
|
|
Soviet
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first person to orbit
the Earth. |
|
|
Alan
Shepard, Jr. becomes the first American astronaut in space. |
|
 |
1962
|
|
John
Glenn, Jr. becomes the first American astronaut to orbit
the Earth. |
1963
|
The
first woman in space is Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova. |
|
1968
|
The United States launches Apollo 8, the first
manned space mission to orbit the
moon. |
1969
|
 U.S.
astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and
Michael Collins make it to the moon. Armstrong is the first
man to walk on the moon and was followed by Buzz Aldrin.
|
By reaching the moon first, the United States won the space race.
Soviet and U.S. leaders knew that being the first country to land
on the moon would be an extremely important media event. The world
watched each country’s progress with great interest. Scientists
and government leaders in both countries were under intense pressure
to meet tough deadlines.
|
If you were
a reporter in the 1960s, how would you have covered the events?