The German scientist Wernher von Braun and some of his colleagues from Hitler's V-2 rocket program had moved to the U.S. Eisenhower and Congress responded by establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which began operations in late 1958. Thus, Sputnik served as a “wake-up call” to American leaders. It became an ominous symbol of our scientific inferiority and a potential threat to our national security. Dubbed Sputnik, the satellite was visible as it passed over the U.S. On 4 October 1957, America's fears were intensified when the Soviets became the first to launch a satellite into orbit, proving that they had the technology to deliver nuclear weapons anywhere in the world.
Indeed, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev threatened that his country would bury America. The Communists' eventual goal was to dominate the globe. However, the Cold War escalated during the 1950s, giving rise to numerous crises that threatened world peace. The success of this massive humanitarian effort increased American confidence that we were superior to the Soviets. In response, the British and Americans instituted the Berlin Airlift, which became the only source of food and fuel available to western Berlin for almost a year. In 1948, the Soviets blockaded western Berlin, hoping to drive out the Allied powers. and the Soviet Union grew, giving rise to a new conflict-the Cold War-symbolized by the Iron Curtain.
From 1945 through 1948, hostility between the U.S. They had already annexed much of eastern and central Europe, establishing Communist regimes loyal to Moscow. implemented the Marshall Plan to assist European countries ravaged by the war, but the Soviets made it clear that they had their own plan. Soon after World War II ended in Europe in 1945, Americans began to realize that peace was not possible with the Soviet Union, our former ally. This fascinating account transported me back to the American-Soviet space race and reminded me of what an important impact it had on me and my scientific career. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Failure Is Not an Option, 1 a book about the history of the United States space program from Mercury to Apollo 13 and beyond.
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