The Positive Impacts of The Space Race
Following World War II, tensions between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. rose dramatically. These tensions eventually caused the Cold War, a war that did not contain any actual combat between the two countries, but contained U.S. foreign involvement to contain communism, an arms race, and the space race (“Cold War History”). The space race is defined as the period of time in the 50s and 60s where the U.S. and Soviets competed technologically to be the first to get a man on the moon. This space age began on October 4, 1957, when the U.S.S.R. put the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into orbit around the Earth. As the news hit the U.S. the next day, many Americans were worried that the US had become technologically …show more content…
military. Prior to the space age the smallest computers took up the size of an entire room, but NASA’s pioneering research into integrated circuits, or computer chips, led to the creation of the Apollo Guidance System, which is regarded as the first embedded computer (Saran). Embedded computers, consisting of a computer encapsulated by a device to perform a certain task, are the basis of many modern technologies such as cell phones, calculators, and ATMs (“Embedded Computer Systems”). NASA also developed satellite technology as a way to communicate with astronauts, setting up the foundation for the satellites today, which provide many people with TV, GPS navigation, and internet (Mead). Other NASA research from the space race has provided the world with cordless tools, 3D graphics, and insulation (Mead). All of these inventions have helped made everyday life more efficient and increased our accessibility to information. Without NASA actively researching technology in the 50s and 60s, the world would not have the basis for all of the computers that help minimize business costs and help save the U.S. so much money today. The U.S. military has also received better technology due to the space race. After the Soviets launched Sputnik, many Americans feared the U.S.S.R. would someday launch nuclear weapons at America from the spacecraft (Woudhuysen). To address the nation’s fears, …show more content…
NASA’s next project is to get Americans to Mars by 2033 and they will need both more funding and the support of the American public for their mission to be a success. As always, the U.S. faces numerous problems in politics and foreign affairs, so it can be easy to overlook the benefits of the space program. While going to Mars would not be part of a greater global ideological conflict like it was during the space race, the project could help reinvigorate the US’s sliding STEM global rankings and perhaps inspire the invention of the next revolutionary
Following World War II, tensions between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. rose dramatically. These tensions eventually caused the Cold War, a war that did not contain any actual combat between the two countries, but contained U.S. foreign involvement to contain communism, an arms race, and the space race (“Cold War History”). The space race is defined as the period of time in the 50s and 60s where the U.S. and Soviets competed technologically to be the first to get a man on the moon. This space age began on October 4, 1957, when the U.S.S.R. put the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into orbit around the Earth. As the news hit the U.S. the next day, many Americans were worried that the US had become technologically …show more content…
military. Prior to the space age the smallest computers took up the size of an entire room, but NASA’s pioneering research into integrated circuits, or computer chips, led to the creation of the Apollo Guidance System, which is regarded as the first embedded computer (Saran). Embedded computers, consisting of a computer encapsulated by a device to perform a certain task, are the basis of many modern technologies such as cell phones, calculators, and ATMs (“Embedded Computer Systems”). NASA also developed satellite technology as a way to communicate with astronauts, setting up the foundation for the satellites today, which provide many people with TV, GPS navigation, and internet (Mead). Other NASA research from the space race has provided the world with cordless tools, 3D graphics, and insulation (Mead). All of these inventions have helped made everyday life more efficient and increased our accessibility to information. Without NASA actively researching technology in the 50s and 60s, the world would not have the basis for all of the computers that help minimize business costs and help save the U.S. so much money today. The U.S. military has also received better technology due to the space race. After the Soviets launched Sputnik, many Americans feared the U.S.S.R. would someday launch nuclear weapons at America from the spacecraft (Woudhuysen). To address the nation’s fears, …show more content…
NASA’s next project is to get Americans to Mars by 2033 and they will need both more funding and the support of the American public for their mission to be a success. As always, the U.S. faces numerous problems in politics and foreign affairs, so it can be easy to overlook the benefits of the space program. While going to Mars would not be part of a greater global ideological conflict like it was during the space race, the project could help reinvigorate the US’s sliding STEM global rankings and perhaps inspire the invention of the next revolutionary