THE U2 CRISIS and THE THE U2 CRISIS and THE

SPACE RACESPACE RACE

Space Race Space Race –– Arms Race!Arms Race!

The race begins….The race begins….• Both countries began developing their weapons so as to be

able to ‘outgun’ their opponents. This meant:

• developing more powerful weapons

•Having more of one weapon than the other side

• WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS?WHY NUCLEAR WEAPONS?

•• Cheaper than having a large armyCheaper than having a large army

•• They were a They were a deterrent. deterrent. The idea was to have so many The idea was to have so many

missiles that they could not all be destroyed. If one side missiles that they could not all be destroyed. If one side

attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This was attacked then it knew that the other could retaliate. This was

known as MAD known as MAD –– MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION.MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTION.

••For some the Arms Race was a test of the strengths of For some the Arms Race was a test of the strengths of

Capitalism v communismCapitalism v communism

Why was there a nuclear arms race?

450 ICBMs

76 IBMs

700 Medium range bombers

1,600 bombers450 ICBMs

250 Medium range missiles

2,260 Bombers

16,000Tanks

32 Nuclear submarines

260 Conventional submarines

76 Battleships and carriers

1,600 bombers

38,000 Tanks

12 Nuclear submarines

495 Conventional submarines

0 Battleships and cruisers

Dates of the nuclear arms race, 1945 Dates of the nuclear arms race, 1945 -- 19601960

1945 1945 –– USA tests and drops the first atomic (A) USA tests and drops the first atomic (A)

bombsbombs

1949 1949 –– USSR tests A bombUSSR tests A bomb

1952 1952 –– USA tests its first hydrogen (H) bombUSA tests its first hydrogen (H) bomb

1953 1953 –– USSR tests its first H bombUSSR tests its first H bomb1953 1953 –– USSR tests its first H bombUSSR tests its first H bomb

1957 1957 –– USSRUSSR

1. tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb from 1. tests ICBM capable of carrying an H bomb from

USSR to USAUSSR to USA

2. puts the space satellite ‘Sputnik’ into orbit.2. puts the space satellite ‘Sputnik’ into orbit.

1958 – USA

1. Places IRBMs targeted on USSR in NATO

countries. Both sides could now launch direct

attacks on each others’ cities

2. Launches its own satellite

1960 – USA launches first nuclear powered 1960 – USA launches first nuclear powered

submarine capable of firing a Polaris missile with

an atomic warhead from underwater

The failure of disarmamentThe failure of disarmament

�� Both sides hoped for arms reductions to cut Both sides hoped for arms reductions to cut

defence spendingdefence spending

�� After Stalin’s death EastAfter Stalin’s death East--West relations had West relations had

improvedimprovedimprovedimproved

�� USSR proposed:USSR proposed:

–– reduction of armed forcesreduction of armed forces

–– Eventual abolition of atomic weaponsEventual abolition of atomic weapons

–– International inspections to supervise thisInternational inspections to supervise this

The USA….The USA….

�� Wanted strong inspection systemWanted strong inspection system

�� Proposed ‘open skies’ Proposed ‘open skies’ –– openly photograph openly photograph each others sites from planeseach others sites from planes

�� USSR rejected thisUSSR rejected this�� USSR rejected thisUSSR rejected this

�� USA rejected initial USSR proposalsUSA rejected initial USSR proposals

�� StalemateStalemate

�� Attempts again failed at the 1960 Paris Attempts again failed at the 1960 Paris Summit due to the U2 incident.Summit due to the U2 incident.

GlossaryGlossary

�� ICBMs ICBMs –– Inter Continental Ballistic Inter Continental Ballistic

MissilesMissiles

�� IRBMs IRBMs –– Intermediate Range Ballistic Intermediate Range Ballistic

MissilesMissilesMissilesMissiles

�� MAD MAD –– Mutual Assured DestructionMutual Assured Destruction

THE SPACE RACETHE SPACE RACE

CompetitionCompetition

�� Khrushchev keen to competeKhrushchev keen to compete

�� Show Communist technology to be superiorShow Communist technology to be superior

�� Increase Soviet prestigeIncrease Soviet prestige

�� Sputnik launched in 1957Sputnik launched in 1957

�� USA failed to launch their satellite until USA failed to launch their satellite until

19581958

�� Race would continue until 1980’sRace would continue until 1980’s

The serious side was….The serious side was….

�� That a rocket that could launch a satellite could That a rocket that could launch a satellite could also launch a nuclear warhead at a target.also launch a nuclear warhead at a target.

�� So space developments led to rapid advances in So space developments led to rapid advances in nuclear weapons.nuclear weapons.

By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to �� By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to By 1960 each side had the nuclear capability to destroy the earthdestroy the earth

�� In 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut was the In 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut was the first man to orbit the earth first man to orbit the earth –– the Soviets had the the Soviets had the lead. For Khrushchev it wa a triumph for lead. For Khrushchev it wa a triumph for communismcommunism

Khrushchev saidKhrushchev said

‘ ‘ The Sputniks prove that communism has won The Sputniks prove that communism has won

the competition between communist and the competition between communist and

capitalist countries. The economy, science, capitalist countries. The economy, science,

culture and the creative genius of people in culture and the creative genius of people in culture and the creative genius of people in culture and the creative genius of people in

all areas of life develop better and faster all areas of life develop better and faster

under communism.’under communism.’

U2U2

�� 19601960

�� U2 was a spy plane U2 was a spy plane –– that was what it was that was what it was

developed fordeveloped for

Able to fly 6000km at high altitudesAble to fly 6000km at high altitudes�� Able to fly 6000km at high altitudesAble to fly 6000km at high altitudes

�� Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases Could take photos of Soviet bomber bases

and missile sitesand missile sites

EventsEvents

�� May 1May 1-- U2 plane piloted by Gary Powers shot U2 plane piloted by Gary Powers shot down by Soviet missile over Russiadown by Soviet missile over Russia

�� May 5 May 5 –– Eisenhower denied it was spyingEisenhower denied it was spying

�� May 7 May 7 –– Khrushchev says Powers to be charged Khrushchev says Powers to be charged with spyingwith spyingwith spyingwith spying

�� May 11 May 11 –– Eisenhower admits U2 was on spying Eisenhower admits U2 was on spying missionmission

�� May 14 May 14 –– Khrushchev demands apology and Khrushchev demands apology and cancelling of all U2 flightscancelling of all U2 flights

�� May 16 May 16 –– U2 flights cancelled U2 flights cancelled –– no apology no apology ––Khrushchev walks out of Paris SummitKhrushchev walks out of Paris Summit

ResultsResults

�� Paris summit abandoned Paris summit abandoned –– hopes on hopes on

disarmament dasheddisarmament dashed

�� Khrushchev showed Communist world he Khrushchev showed Communist world he

could be toughcould be toughcould be toughcould be tough

�� Powers sentenced to ten years. Swapped for Powers sentenced to ten years. Swapped for

Soviet spy after 17 monthsSoviet spy after 17 months

�� Cold War attitudes hardened againCold War attitudes hardened again