I. Political and Economic Situations surrounding the Space Race in America
“The good news for space exploration in general is that public opinion favors it – but only when not taking economic costs and budgetary spending into consideration.” (Hsu)
Setting up the backdrop for the rise of the space program simultaneously builds the opposing argument for its continuation past 1969 as well. As culturally beneficial as it eventually resulted to be, it can be widely agreed that the initialization of the race to the moon was not sparked by human curiosity itself. The primary motivator for initial American exploration into space was a silver beach-ball sized hunk of metal called Sputnik. Normally a Russian ball made of metal wouldn’t unnerve anyone- …show more content…
In order to fully understand the aftermath of the space race, the international competition itself must be analyzed for its landmarks in history and effects on the different nations involved. The flagship developments being discussed translate directly into social and cultural movements that grind out political and economic progression. It cannot be appropriate to ask the question of whether losing focus from the space program was a right step, without first completely understanding the circumstances under which the program was …show more content…
Kennedy took over the presidential reins from a harrowed Eisenhower in the late 1960. Continuing a chronological analysis from the perspective of the Cold War conflict, Kennedy found himself faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstances: America was in the process of a deep cultural recession and needed a solution, needed a way out. Kennedy’s answer was delivered in his famous speech in May of 1961: Surpass Russia entirely by the end of the decade, landing a man on the moon and bringing him home safely. This accomplishment, Kennedy thought, would overshadow the blaring facts that the Soviets had put a probe on the moon, a satellite in solar orbit, and the first man into space, all before the United States.The conclusion can be made that the long-term goal Kennedy set to land a man on the moon was for wartime reasons and instigated by the
“The good news for space exploration in general is that public opinion favors it – but only when not taking economic costs and budgetary spending into consideration.” (Hsu)
Setting up the backdrop for the rise of the space program simultaneously builds the opposing argument for its continuation past 1969 as well. As culturally beneficial as it eventually resulted to be, it can be widely agreed that the initialization of the race to the moon was not sparked by human curiosity itself. The primary motivator for initial American exploration into space was a silver beach-ball sized hunk of metal called Sputnik. Normally a Russian ball made of metal wouldn’t unnerve anyone- …show more content…
In order to fully understand the aftermath of the space race, the international competition itself must be analyzed for its landmarks in history and effects on the different nations involved. The flagship developments being discussed translate directly into social and cultural movements that grind out political and economic progression. It cannot be appropriate to ask the question of whether losing focus from the space program was a right step, without first completely understanding the circumstances under which the program was …show more content…
Kennedy took over the presidential reins from a harrowed Eisenhower in the late 1960. Continuing a chronological analysis from the perspective of the Cold War conflict, Kennedy found himself faced with seemingly insurmountable circumstances: America was in the process of a deep cultural recession and needed a solution, needed a way out. Kennedy’s answer was delivered in his famous speech in May of 1961: Surpass Russia entirely by the end of the decade, landing a man on the moon and bringing him home safely. This accomplishment, Kennedy thought, would overshadow the blaring facts that the Soviets had put a probe on the moon, a satellite in solar orbit, and the first man into space, all before the United States.The conclusion can be made that the long-term goal Kennedy set to land a man on the moon was for wartime reasons and instigated by the