The Cold War in the Skies
by Kuleen and Albert
After Stalin’s death, a vacuum of power was left in Soviet politics. Nikita Khrushchev eventually filled this void. Khrushchev favored a policy involving friendly economic and scientific competition between the two powers. The presence of such a leader among the Soviets sparked the Space Race, as the United States and Soviet Union competed to be the first country to get into space. On 10/4/1957 Russia won the race by launching Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. The U.S. responded frantically, by pouring money into research and successfully launched its first rocket on 1/31/1958.
Though the Soviets won the Space Race, the U.S. had achieved air superiority through their spy planes the U-2’s. After President Eisenhower’s “open skies” proposal was rejected at the 1955 Geneva summit conference, the CIA started high-altitude flights over Soviet territory. They used the U-2, because it could fly at high altitudes to avoid detection, and use infrared cameras to take detailed pictures of Soviet military movement. However, by 1960, U.S. officials were nervous about the program for 2 reasons: 1. Some members of the U.S. press were aware of the spy program and 2. The Soviets had been aware of the flights since 1958. Eisenhower wanted the program terminated, because on 5/15/1960 he and Khrushchev were meeting for a summit to discuss the arms race. He could not afford to ruin his image before the conference. Unfortunately, he was persuaded to allow one last flight on May 1st. On this final mission, the U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Soviet territory, and imprisoned for 10 years. This encounter enraged Khrushchev, who demanded an end to the spying and an apology. Initially, Eisenhower denied the spying activity, however he was forced to admit the espionage when faced with Soviet evidence. Eisenhower agreed to end the clandestine activity, but refused to apologize. Khrushchev canceled the summit, retracted his invitation for Eisenhower to enter the Soviet Union and tension rose. This U-2 incident rekindled much of the tension in the Cold War, and perpetuated the conflict.
I liked the pictures, especially the one of the satellite. It was a good summary and included many interesting details about Eisenhower and U-2s. Good job.
ReplyDeleteThe Cold War is a very interesting part of History, in particular the Space Race and the competition in the technologic field, since it made possible the beginning of projects that are going on today, in particular about the exploration of Space.
ReplyDeleteGood job with the pictures, they catch the eye!
Your facts about the space race are very interesting. However, I have to disagree with the part about the U.S. losing the space race. Though the U.S. did not launch the first satellite, the space race has continued for years; I believe the U.S. is in the lead.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this article, becuase I find the cold war really interesting. The fact Nikita Khrushchev favored economic and scientific compition instead of starting a war is so different then all history before him. Instead of competing in military stregnth and who can kill more soilders, which benefits no one, and leads to much unhappiness and hardship to the loser. They compete in a way that benefits each other as well as the world and the future.
ReplyDeleteMmmm-nice big sputnik picture. What a detailed article. But i believe there are a few opinions mixed in there amongst the facts...
ReplyDeleteThis was an interesting blog. It was nicely writen and there is good information. I had not known the US lost the space race, i had assumed the US won.
ReplyDeleteThis was a well written article. It gives a lot of information on a non-violent competition between the two powers, that was just as fierce.
ReplyDeleteVery nice article. You used dates to support your facts
ReplyDeleteI think the space race is very interesting because competition between countries is probably the leading cause of war. Great article, and I love the pictures!
ReplyDelete-Erika Hoopes
I didn't know about the U-2s, that was quite interesting article.
ReplyDeleteAlso Soviet Union was the first to send a human to space (Yuri Gagarin), who orbited for 108 minutes, and then a month later Alan Shepard became the first American in space.
You can find more facts and pictures on NASA's website. :)
Pictures should be placed better, apart from each other.
ReplyDeleteThe paragraphs need some breathing room, please put spaces between them.
Otherwise, well-written and concise.