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Space Race Research Paper

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During the 20th century, both the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the United States were in a heated competition commonly known as the Space Race. It began with the Soviets launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, on October 7, 1957. The Soviets continued their lead with the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. There is speculation as to exactly when the Space Race ended, as the most common theory is the Apollo-Soyuz project in 1975 however, other opinions say that the Apollo 8 mission had marked the end , proving that travel to the moon was possible. Regardless, the space race left a significant impact on the technology world that still affects us to this very day. Technology and our understanding of space were not …show more content…

Hollywood also incorporated the questions left from the Space Race such as whether or not extraterrestrials existed. The Space Race has also influenced other forms of popular culture; rather than dwelling on the animosity and fear left from the war, other genres focused more upon the optimistic views of the future. Within the music industry, in an attempt to capture an otherworldly sound, Space Age Pop was born; and music such as Fly Me to the Moon began to appear, - specifically romanticizing space. Other forms of entertainment that began to appear during this period include the Space Force radio broadcasts airing on the BBC and the introduction of cartoons such as the Jetsons. Finally, the effects of the space race reached the very lifestyle of the people, influencing the creation of Atomic Design upon architecture, cars, and household items. There was also a modification in the design of clothing, as some clothes became more streamlined, resembling the atomic design present – This is mostly seen within André Courrèges’ line of clothing

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