Outside of Our Orbits!

Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. and the Soviet Union continued to push each other towards brinkmanship, particularly with artillery demands in what was called the "Arms Race". Soon, many Americans thought they saw the most of their worries when the U.S. and U.S.S.R. both tested Hydrogen bombs in 1952 and 1953. Yet, the technological advancements have just begun to develop an overwhelming scare.

In 1957, the Soviet Union saw the rise of space power during this time period. Most notably, the Soviets launched Sputnik 1 into the atmosphere above the Earth. While the Americans were stuck on creating inventions for Hydrogen fission and the Hydrogen bomb, the Soviets proceeded greatly. In successfully launching Sputnik 1, the satellite was much larger and heavier than most American scientists previously thought it was. The satellite was big enough that America became completely stunned by the fact. The Soviets could eventually create more satellites to hold ICBM's or Intercontinental Balistic Missiles. In response, the Americans launched a satellite of their own, Explorer I. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also signed off on developing the National Aeronautics and Space Organization or NASA. All of this was to help compete with the Soviets even further and of course the Soviets answered back.

In 1959, the Soviets launched Luna 2 into the atmosphere to attempt to be the first to hit the moon. Although this attempt failed, the Soviet Union in fact were the first to orbit man around Earth. The Americans soon tried to top Yuri Gagarin's attempt before his next mission was to be launched. Then President John F. Kennedy took office and declared that the American Space Organization was to have a man on the moon by the end of the 60's decade. As an effect, the Apollo missions begun a series long attempt to head towards the moon. The most famous is Apollo 13, where the American astronauts had to survive on a broken oxygen tank. Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon calling this extraordinary mission "one small step for man, one giant step for mankind."

As a whole, the Americans "won" the Space Race that all started with the launch of Sputnik in 1957. To make an official agreement, three Americans and a Soviet space vehicle met in orbit to make a final "handshake" to settle U.S. and Soviet tensions in the Cold War.