A Guide to Primary Resources for U.S. History : Military Origins of the Space Race Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Space Race This project website demonstrates how the space race was kicked off by of Cold War rivals' (U.S. and U.S.S.R.) desire to develop long-range missiles that could deliver nuclear weapons long distance with little warning. A rocket able to carry a bomb across the globe also could be used to loft machines and men into orbit. The United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a long competition to develop rockets for both warfare and the exploration of space. (Secondary source material with hyperlinks to some primary source artifacts). The following quote opens the website: "The next war will not start with a naval action nor by aircraft flown by human beings. It might very well start with missiles being dropped on the capital of a country, say Washington." (Gen. Henry H. Arnold, 1945). Students can discuss: How true was this statement? What effect might such a statement have on Americans? Was this type of statement common or uncommon during this period? The students can use the website to create an annotated timeline of the military origins of the space race. If they do their timeline within a PowerPoint presentation, they can import the images on the website into their project.

Military Origins of the Space Race
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Space Race

Description: This project website demonstrates how the space race was kicked off by of Cold War rivals' (U.S. and U.S.S.R.) desire to develop long-range missiles that could deliver nuclear weapons long distance with little warning. A rocket able to carry a bomb across the globe also could be used to loft machines and men into orbit. The United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a long competition to develop rockets for both warfare and the exploration of space. (Secondary source material with hyperlinks to some primary source artifacts).

Teaching Tips:

"Do Now" Suggestion

The following quote opens the website: "The next war will not start with a naval action nor by aircraft flown by human beings. It might very well start with missiles being dropped on the capital of a country, say Washington." (Gen. Henry H. Arnold, 1945). Students can discuss: How true was this statement? What effect might such a statement have on Americans? Was this type of statement common or uncommon during this period?

Suggestion for Using this Resource as Part of a Lesson

The students can use the website to create an annotated timeline of the military origins of the space race. If they do their timeline within a PowerPoint presentation, they can import the images on the website into their project.