History of Space Race (03:59)

FREE PREVIEW

Imagine if a Russian made the historic walk on the moon instead of an American. Three events propel the United States to conquer the space race—the R-7 rocket launch, President John F. Kennedy's speech, and Neil Armstrong's steps. Listen to history of astronomy from antiquity.

Memory of Humanity (03:08)

If the Earth's history occurred in one day, humans began to create communities in the last hour. Authors like H.G. Wells and Jules Verne imagined how to travel to the moon. Germans create the V-2 rocket during World War II; America and Russia race to complete an intercontinental nuclear missile to dominate the other.

Racing Toward Domination (03:44)

Sergei Korolev runs the Russian Space program. In 1957, the scientists launch the R-1 rocket with the first satellite into orbit; the Americans create the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Learn the physics behind a rocket launching into space.

April 12th, 1961 (02:56)

Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to travel into space. President Kennedy promises to send a man to the moon; listen to excerpts of "We choose to go to the Moon" speech.

Turning Point in the Space Race (05:00)

If President Kennedy had not delivered the speech, the Russians would have traveled to the moon first and conquered aviation. The Military is interested in flight and propels innovation after World War I. In 1969, the world watches Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin step on the moon; achievements in space since the lunar landing include the Mir Space Station, the Hubble Telescope, and the Voyager 1 probe.

Formula (04:04)

Compare the space race to a Formula One Racecar; innovations created to travel into orbit include GPS, hi-tech train brakes, survival blankets, Velcro, Teflon, and video game joysticks. Public interest wanes on NASA achievements. Learn how private companies and individuals now finance space exploration.

Pioneering Spirit (02:30)

Men live and work in space. Future innovations could include travel, discovering an alien race, and colonization of Mars. Human beings want to explore and are naturally curious.