Positive Effects Of The Space Race

Beginning in the late 1950s, the Space Race was a competition during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States to develop artificial satellites, space probes, and human spaceflight. It had a major impact on society and culture in America. If the Russians could launch successful satellites into space, maybe they could launch nuclear missiles as well. In many aspects of the Space Race, the Soviets were ahead; they launched the first successful, unmanned satellite, and then a month later they proved that living beings could survive space travel, all before America even sent a satellite into space. Even when the U.S. sent up a successful satellite, the Russians gained larger lead when they sent the first human into space, shortly after. The Soviets achieved even more …show more content…
Most of the money that it took to send Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon and other space accomplishments came from the people, through taxes due to the seven to nine billion dollars Kennedy was requesting from Congress. Many people weren’t happy with this and President Kennedy stated himself that if Americans aren't willing to give their blood, sweat and tears to achieve this common goal, then it is not a suitable time to go to the moon. This was the price of all of the positive benefits. There were many causes and effects of the Space Race, which lasted from 1957, with the launching of Sputnik I, and ended in 1975, with the Apollo Soyuz Test Project which was when three United States astronauts and two Soviet cosmonauts exchanged flags as a symbol of the first international manned space venture and the end of the Space Race. There were many causes that resulted in both positive and negative results that affect society today. For instance, a cause was the Cold War and an effect is advancement in technology. Without the Space Race, life today would be very