The Space Race: Where History, Space, and Science Collide

If you’ve seen or even heard of the movie “Hidden Figures”, directed by Theodore Melfi, you’ve probably also heard of the Space Race. This movie highlights the journey and struggles of three black women working for NASA during the 1950’s, one as an engineer, one as a mathematician, and one as a computer scientist. They all helped get Apollo 11, a spaceship carrying real life people, to the moon before any other countries could. Even though they struggled with discrimination and being constantly discredited, their work was essential to the United States’ win in the Space Race. So, what is the Space Race, and why is it so important? 

What led to the Space Race?

Following the end of World War 2, the United States and Russia were the world’s largest competing countries. Both countries were extremely powerful, and even though they did not get along, they both knew that starting a war would be a bad thing for humankind. So, instead of an actual war, the Cold War started, where the two countries competed against each other for superiority in other ways. One of these ways was the Space Race. During the 1950’s, both the United States and Russia were developing new space technology at an extremely rapid rate, and each country wanted to be the first to put a man on the moon. 

What was it like to live during the Space Race?

During the Space Race, many people working in science, technology, engineering, and math careers began working for NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the organization in charge of the United States’ role in the Space Race. These people performed science experiments on aircraft, performed countless math problems, developed computers, and worked very, very long hours in order to meet the United State’s goal of being the first country to put people on the moon. Meanwhile, Russian scientists and engineers are working very hard as well to prepare their own spacecraft for an interstellar journey. 

Every race has a winner, so, who won? 

Well, there isn’t an answer to this question that’s 100% right. Most historians and scientists agree that the United States won the Space Race because they were the first country to put people on the moon and return them to Earth safely. However, Russia made major advancements in space travel. For example, on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut, became the first human being to ever orbit the Earth. The Russians also launched the Earth’s first ever satellite into space 4 years earlier, on October 4, 1957. These accomplishments make it hard to distinguish which country won and which country lost. However, most people would say the United States emerged as a victor in this competition. 

What can we learn from the Space Race?

The Space Race is a story of determination, perseverance, and the power of scientific advancement. Both scientists from the United States and Russia worked tirelessly to reach their goals, something we all should do. In addition, many different people working in STEM careers helped the United States win the race. Mathematicians helped calculate how the spacecraft would exit and reenter the atmosphere, computer scientists, helped build the software for computers both on the spacecraft and at NASA, engineers built the Apollo 11 from the ground up, and many other incredibly smart people assisted in the race. Just like in “Hidden Figures”, you can become a scientist that makes history for their incredible scientific work! Through hard work and perseverance, you can have a career in STEM, helping humankind advance here on Earth and through amazing interstellar journeys. 

Works Cited 

Barry , Bill. “Sputnik and the Dawn of the Space Age.” NASA, NASA, history.nasa.gov/sputnik.html.

Mann, Adam. “What Was the Space Race?” Space.com, Space, 7 Aug. 2019, www.space.com/space-race.html.

Melfi, Theodore, director. Hidden Figures. 20th Century Fox, 6 Jan. 2017.

The StarChild Team. “Yuri Gagarin.” NASA, NASA, starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/gagarin.html.

Zak, Anatoly. “Why Didn't the Soviets Ever Make It to the Moon?” Popular Mechanics, Popular Mechanics, 31 Jan. 2020, www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a22531/why-didnt-russia-make-it-to-the-moon/.