Space Race
Definition
The Space Race was a 20th-century competition between two Cold War rivals, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the United States (US), for dominance in spaceflight capability.
Analogy
Imagine the Space Race as an intense championship game between two rival sports teams - Team USA and Team USSR. Each team is trying to outdo the other by scoring more points, or in this case, achieving more "firsts" in space exploration.
Related terms
Sputnik Crisis: The period of public fear and anxiety in Western nations due to the launch of Sputnik 1, marking the Soviets' entry into space.
Moon Landing: The event where Apollo 11, a NASA mission, successfully landed two astronauts on the moon's surface in July 1969. This marked a significant victory for US in the Space Race.
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): A missile with a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers primarily designed for nuclear weapons delivery. Development of ICBMs was crucial during Space Race as it demonstrated technological superiority.
"Space Race" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (4)
- Which of the following was a direct effect of the Space Race?
- What was the Space Race?
- What is a common thread between Manifest Destiny during the mid-19th century and Space Race during Cold War?
- What significant event marked the start of the Space Race between USA and USSR?
Resources
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