Cold war led to the Soviet Union and United States investing large amounts in advanced, dangerous military equipment. In 2014, Duiker referred to the space race as the competition between the United States (USA) and Soviet Union in developing complex aerospace technologies such as unmanned space probes and satellites. The United States established NASA to carry out space exploration. After the Soviet Union won the first space race, the United States had to revise their strategic defense strategy. Space exploration was one of the most important investments made by the United States.
The space race between the United States of America and the Soviet Union
As both countries fought for supremacy, the Cold War exacerbated tensions between the United States of America and the Soviet Union after World War II. 1957 saw the Soviets launch the first satellite. It increased tensions between Washington’s military and government. Americans were worried that Sputnik I was a demonstration of their technological capabilities. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik II in 1958. These satellites transmitted atmospheric data. Soviet exploration continued with Lenik III’s launch, which provided a glimpse of the moon’s dark side.
NASA was founded to combat the Soviet Union’s successes in space exploration. The Soviet Union continued its space exploration to be the first nation to put a human on the orbit of the earth. This was followed closely by the United States. (2016) (Hammond). In order to expand its space research, the United States launched the Apollo Program and made the first humans landing on the moon. The USSR and USSR were both technically and militarily superior in the space race. Space technology was seen as an advantage and a nation that has advanced space technology is considered strong and secure. This led to heated rivalry.
What makes the Space Program so important
Space is vital because it increases national security in face of many domestic and international threats such as China’s expansion and India. Space race investments increase a country’s military and scientific superiority, which makes it easier to defend itself against any foreign attack. In order to counter the rising tide of terroristism, the United States makes extensive use of space technology such as drones and unmanned spacecraft. The United States used an unmanned drone in 2020 to kill Qassim Suliman. Space technology can be used to improve a country’s strategy and fight its enemies, especially when it is combined with satellites that are used to detect impending attacks and to react accordingly. To illustrate, America may utilize its satellite technology in order to assess Russia’s aggressiveness towards Turkey and devise the most effective response to stop further conflict.
How cost-effective is the race to space?
US spacecraft research, development and investment has huge economic impacts on the country. NASA spent almost $20 billion on spacecraft research and technology in 2015. NASA has produced over 1,600 new technologies in 2019 and generated $64.3 billion of income, which bolsters the country’s economic stability. Space exploration could contribute to America’s economic growth by providing substantial income. Space exploration companies, such as Space X/Blue Origin, provide jobs for tens or thousands of people. This contributes to the nation’s economic growth and development.
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