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Space Race 1957-1975 International Geophysical Year • In 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions decided to establish July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958, as the International Geophysical Year (IGY) because the scientists knew that the cycles of solar activity would be at a high point then. International Geophysical Year • In July 1955, the White House announced plans to launch an Earthorbiting satellite for the IGY. • USA had the U-2 Spy Plane and was not initially worried about a Soviet advance into space. • The Sputnik launch changed American Plans. Sputnik • October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. • The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball. • It took 98 minutes to orbit the earth. • Its launch marked the start of the space race. Sputnik • Sputnik surprised the world and caught the Americans off guard. • With the launch, Americans feared Soviet missile capabilities. • One month later, Sputnik II was launched, carrying a dog named Laika. • Laika was killed in the process. America Reacts • January 31, 1958, US launches Explorer I—discovers the Van Allen radiation belt. • March 17, 1958, US launches Vanguard I—establishes that the earth is pear shaped. • July 29, 1958—NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was established. Men (and Women) in Space • Yuri Gagarin—April 12, 1961 – First Person in Space and Orbit • Alan Shepard—May 5, 1961 – First American in Space • John Glenn—Feb. 20, 1962 – First American to orbit the earth • Valentina Tereshkova—June 16, 1963 – First Woman in Space American Space Program • Project Mercury (1959-1963) – Mission: One-man crew • Project Gemini (1962-1966) – Mission: Two-man crew, extravehicular activity (space walks) • Project Apollo (1961-1972) – Mission: Three-man crew to the moon The Moon • Mercury and Gemini programs readied astronauts and technologies, and built up the American space program. • Apollo 8—first lunar orbit Dec. 21, 1968 • Apollo 11—first landing on July 20, 1969 • Apollo 17—last lunar landing Dec. 1972 End of the Race • Cold War Thaws—Détente 1970s • Joint Mission: Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, July 1975 • 3 American Astronauts • 2 Soviet Cosmonauts End of the Race • Space Stations – International Cooperation • Space Shuttles – 1981-2011 • Satellites – Commercial, Military, Private, etc. – Communications, Navigation, Information, Surveillance, etc. Space Race: 1957-1975 Soviet Union• • • • • First Satellite in orbit First Dog in space First man is space First Woman in Space 3 Cosmonauts Killed in spaceflight United States• Second Man in space • First chimpanzee in space • First Man on moon • $24 Billion in 1970s dollars