THE SPACE RACE

Learning Goals

I will be able to recognize the three main battles of the Space Race.

I will be able to explain the pathway to putting a man on the moon!

The Space Race

Occurred during 1957 – 1975 between the USSR (Soviet Union, now Russia) and the USA. Started with the launch of Sputnik-

I Ended with the joint Apollo-Soyuz

mission.

Seen as necessary for national security as well as symbolic of technological and ideological (capitalist vs. communist) superiority.

Sputnik-I vs. Explorer-I

Sputnik-I Explorer-I

First satellite launched into orbit on October 4, 1957.

Studied temperatures in the upper atmosphere.

Relayed messages back to Russian Command.

Re-entered atmosphere on January 4, 1958 after 3 months in space.

First American satellite launched into orbit on January 31, 1958. After failed Vanguard launch

Measured radiation levels in upper atmosphere.

Re-entered atmosphere on March 31, 1970 after 58,000 orbits.

Sputnik-I Explorer-I

The First Astronauts

Laika the Dog Ham the Chimp First Russian “Cosmonaut”

into space.

Launched into space on November 3, 1957.

Unfortunately, due to cabin overheating, Laika died on her fourth day in space.

Her spacecraft, Sputnik-II, re-entered the atmosphere April 15, 1958.

First American “Astronaut” into space.

Launched into space on January 31, 1961.

Flight lasted 16 minutes and 39 seconds.

Ham was not merely a passenger. Observations led directly to Alan Sheppard’s flight.

Laika the Dog Ham the Chimp

First Men Into Space

Yuri Gagarin Alan Sheppard

First human into space on April 12, 1961.

Flight lasted 1hr 48 minutes.

First American into space on May 5, 1961.

Flight lasted 15 minutes.

Yuri Gagarin Alan Sheppard

John F. Kennedy

The Soviet Union was in the lead of the Space Race after firsts in satellites, animals and humans into space.

This prompted president John F. Kennedy to challenge the USA to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade.

Project Mercury (1959-1963)

First of the manned NASA spaceflight programs. Mercury-Redstone 3 carried

Alan Sheppard.

Program consisted of 20 unmanned flights followed by two suborbital and four orbital flights.Mercury-Redstone 3

Final flights powered by Atlas rocket:

Height = 28.7 m Diameter = 3.0 m Mass = 120,000 kg. Fuel = Liquid Oxygen

Major milestones of Mercury Program:

First American in space (Sheppard)

First American to orbit the earth (John Glenn)

Atlas Rocket

Project Gemini (1962-1966)

The second of the major NASA planned spaceflight programs.

Major goals: Eight-day flight (necessary for

trip to the moon) Rendezvous and docking

between spacecraft. Extravehicular Activity

(spacewalking)

Project Gemini (1962-1966)

Used the Titan Rocket: Height = 33.2 m Diameter = 3.05 m Mass = 154,200 kg. Fuel = Liquid Oxygen /

Hydrogen

Enough power to lift 3600 kg (payload) into orbit!

Apollo Program (1961-1972)

Third and final major manned NASA spaceflights with the moon in mind.

Goal: To land on the moon and

return a man safely home.

Apollo Losses

The riskiest endeavor NASA undertook was sending a man to the moon and returning safely.

The Apollo program, as a result, suffered serious losses to achieve that goal: Apollo 1: Cabin Fire on launch test kills 3

astronauts Apollo 6: Problems with launch vehicle

causes NASA to abort mission (unmanned) Apollo 13: More on this later…

The Eagle Has Landed

After getting closer with each Apollo mission, Apollo 11 finally achieved the goal of getting to the moon on July 20, 1969.

Crew of Apollo 11: Neil Armstrong (Commander) Micheal Collins (CM Pilot) Buzz Aldrin (LM Pilot)

Armstrong walks on moon

Saturn V Launch Vehicle

The launch vehicle that propelled Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins to the moon.

Specs on the Saturn V: Height = 110.6 m Diameter = 10.1 m Mass = 3,039,000 kg Fuel = Liquid Hydrogen / Oxygen

Saturn V had enough power to lift 119,000 kg into Low Earth Orbit.

What went to the Moon?

Lunar Module (Eagle): Landed on moon surface.

Command Module (Columbia): Housed crew en route to moon. Collins whileAldrin & Armstrong on moon.

Learning Goals Revisited

I will be able to recognize the three main battles of the Space Race.

I will be able to explain the pathway to putting a man on the moon!

Your Turn …

Research time for your project!

Quiz tomorrow!