To boldly go where no man has gone before. The launching of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellite on October 4, 1957 unofficially launched the space race, a battle of scientific might against the United States and the Soviet Union, and a continuation of the struggle of power between the two superpowers. Both nations would go on to fight a close battle to show the world which nation had the greatest technological ability, and the fight was close too. The space race would come to its climax on July 20, 1969, when the pilots of Apollo 11 landed on the Moon’s Sea of Tranquility, with Neil Armstrong’s famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” His words would echo not only across the United States, but across the
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Around the world, people and leaders reacted positively to America’s great achievement. Nixon references the global impact in his speech welcoming the astronauts back to Earth, claiming that over 100 letters from nations and rulers around the world sent warm regards and congratulations to the United States.6 Perhaps some of the most interesting notes of praise came from those who antagonized the United States, for example President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. Although recently condemning American Middle East policy just days before, Nasser was quoted addressing the Egyptian ruling body, “‘Even if it is an achievement by the United States, we must speak of it [the moon landing]. We are against American policy, but we are not against technology and scientific knowledge.” 7 Globally nations and politicians commended the act itself, landing man on the moon, regardless of their standing with the United States. It comes to show how impactful the success of Apollo 11 rang throughout the world, transcending diplomatic barriers and tensions as a result of the Cold War. Yet the most striking impact of Apollo 11 came from an unlikely source, the Soviet Union. Although limited in viewing capabilities of the event, many Soviet citizens were aware of the success of Apollo. Soviet citizens stood in awe as they watched the historic first moonwalk live, Soviet radio stations broadcasted congratulations to …show more content…
Small-town and rural Americans for example, felt that the effects of Apollo wouldn’t really affect their daily lifestyles. Some, like Ms. Marion Hopkins Day of McGehee, Arkansas said that the landing displeased her both because of her disinterest and as a whole being morally questionable, challenging if men were really supposed to walk on the moon. 9 Ms. Day was not alone in her judgement, many Americans felt disconnected with America’s lunar program. Whether or not America was successful or not in Apollo 11, small-town Americas lives would remain the same. They had no connection to Apollo 11 and as such, had no interest. Except this sense of disinterest wasn’t only contained to small-town America. Even in urban America many seemed to not care about or opposed an American effort to land on the moon. As Sandra Blakeslee investigates, poll data found that at times a majority of Americans would be interested in going to the moon while at times a majority Americans would be opposed to it. America’s interest in the moon can be traced back to successes and failures of Apollo, as well as the differences in generation and the exposure of technology. 10 Americans then have no real interest in space, and merely bandwagoned with the success of Apollo. Even the allure of new technology seemingly dwarfed the amount of time and effort the government put towards their Apollo
Around the world, people and leaders reacted positively to America’s great achievement. Nixon references the global impact in his speech welcoming the astronauts back to Earth, claiming that over 100 letters from nations and rulers around the world sent warm regards and congratulations to the United States.6 Perhaps some of the most interesting notes of praise came from those who antagonized the United States, for example President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt. Although recently condemning American Middle East policy just days before, Nasser was quoted addressing the Egyptian ruling body, “‘Even if it is an achievement by the United States, we must speak of it [the moon landing]. We are against American policy, but we are not against technology and scientific knowledge.” 7 Globally nations and politicians commended the act itself, landing man on the moon, regardless of their standing with the United States. It comes to show how impactful the success of Apollo 11 rang throughout the world, transcending diplomatic barriers and tensions as a result of the Cold War. Yet the most striking impact of Apollo 11 came from an unlikely source, the Soviet Union. Although limited in viewing capabilities of the event, many Soviet citizens were aware of the success of Apollo. Soviet citizens stood in awe as they watched the historic first moonwalk live, Soviet radio stations broadcasted congratulations to …show more content…
Small-town and rural Americans for example, felt that the effects of Apollo wouldn’t really affect their daily lifestyles. Some, like Ms. Marion Hopkins Day of McGehee, Arkansas said that the landing displeased her both because of her disinterest and as a whole being morally questionable, challenging if men were really supposed to walk on the moon. 9 Ms. Day was not alone in her judgement, many Americans felt disconnected with America’s lunar program. Whether or not America was successful or not in Apollo 11, small-town Americas lives would remain the same. They had no connection to Apollo 11 and as such, had no interest. Except this sense of disinterest wasn’t only contained to small-town America. Even in urban America many seemed to not care about or opposed an American effort to land on the moon. As Sandra Blakeslee investigates, poll data found that at times a majority of Americans would be interested in going to the moon while at times a majority Americans would be opposed to it. America’s interest in the moon can be traced back to successes and failures of Apollo, as well as the differences in generation and the exposure of technology. 10 Americans then have no real interest in space, and merely bandwagoned with the success of Apollo. Even the allure of new technology seemingly dwarfed the amount of time and effort the government put towards their Apollo