The Space Race between the U.S. and USSR.

The Space Race between the U.S. and USSR.

In 1957 the United States (U.S.) and the Soviet Union, now known as Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), got involved in a cold war soon after the Second World War. Being Cold War rivals, the Americans were afraid that the Soviets could take control of the space when they launched their first satellite, Sputnik. A space race is a competition regarding the achievements of the space exploration between nations. The space program led to the invention of a rocket by the Americans (Dawson, 2018). This marked the start of the space race was on where the Soviets were already winning (Dawson, 2018). The paper explores the significance and effects of the Space Race to the United States, the USSR, and the World as well.

What did it mean for the U.S. and USSR during the Cold War?

The U.S. and the USSR were competing to achieve the first spaceflight capability. The launching of Sputnik by the USSR raised a worldwide excitement for the progress taken by humankind. Rocket research was essential, especially to the military after the Second World War. The Space Race was, however, important as it revealed to the World which country had the best technology, science, and economic system (Erickson, 2018).

The attempt of the U.S. and the USSR to outperform each other has left a great impact on technology as the technological superiority for space dominance, a symbol of ideological supremacy, thus, was necessary for national security.

Is the space program still relevant?

Although private companies are playing a significant role in space exploration, most people in the U.S. still hold on to the belief that NASA will still be of importance in the future (Holland & Burns 2018). Since the nineteenth century, the U.S. has remained as a global leader in space.

Is it worth the cost, considering the growing debt?

Experts say space exploration to be an extra burden to a nation due to the cost of Gemini, Mercury, and Apollo programs. In the U.S., space exploration has led to an additional cost of approximately two hundred billion dollars and fifty billion dollars for space stations. Space exploration has been beneficial in the study of Earth from orbit. Besides, it has made it possible to about the weather systems and the planet’s climate. Space exploration not only supports innovation but has also led to economic prosperity through advanced technology (Teece, 2018).  It has also enabled scientists not only to measure these systems but also to understand how human agency affects them.

How does the space program benefit the U.S. national economy in general? How does it benefit the World?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the federal agency of the U.S. that is responsible for space programs, aerospace research, and aeronautics. Reports gas shown that for every dollar, NASA has set aside yearns about 5% increase in a year (Asilla & Subari 2019). This proves that space exploration has a positive impact n the U.S. economy and technological advancement as well. Other economic impacts include the growth of scientific fields and industries as well as economic expansion in surrounding cities and regions. Space exploration is generally beneficial to the whole World. For instance, it has led to the development of scientific knowledge, the creation of new markets, and has created room for innovation. Talking on cellular phones was discovered through space exploration.

Is space exploration the domain of the World’s leading nations?

The U.S. is the leading nation in space exploration, followed by China, Japan, Russia, and Europe. To some extent, space exploration could be a domain of the World’s leading nations since exploration is more about technological expertise (Teece, 2018). Also, space explorations contribute to economic growth through the creation of jobs while involving young people in science who have brought about scientific discoveries.

To sum it up, the space race between the U.S. and USSR has significantly contributed to space exploration. More countries are getting interested in space technology leading to more innovation and scientific knowledge with scientists revealing more information daily. Space exploration has also contributed to economic growth in countries investing in space exploration.