Sputnick Assignment | Online Assignment
Write a 2-3 page paper based on the following.
Setting:
When Americans looked up into the night sky in the fall of 1957, they saw a sight that filled them with both wonder and dread. They could see a little light moving from horizon to horizon. This humble object was the earth-orbiting satellite, known as Sputnik (means “little traveler”). Sputnik was only a small sphere like metal casing that sent out pinging radio signals. This significant accomplishment is credited to the Soviet Union. Sputnik signaled that our potential enemy had conquered space and that America was behind in this technology.
Sputnik sent America into a crash Course project to not just catch up with the Soviets, but to surpass them. The Space Race was on in earnest.
Your Question:
Both the Soviet Union and the U.S. spared no funds and accepted all risks to beat the other one to the next great space feat. The Space Race was a fierce competition. The Soviets won many first in space (first man in obit), but the U.S. achieved the “Holy Gail” of accomplishments by putting a man on the moon in August of 1969.
Competition is typically seen as healthy and desirable because it does challenge us to be better, but both nations had their share of accidents and incidents. This brings us to the Question: Was it worth it? Was the space race worth the expensive. Was the space race worth the risks? In your paper address this question with a foundational argument (prove your answer). Use specifics to make your case.
