SPACE RACE

GRAYSON BENNETT

BRANDON MORAN
JOEL ROGERS

TENSIONS RISE BETWEEN POWERS

Tensions between the United States and Soviet Russia build after the end of World War II
Russia wanted to expand
The US decided to adopt a containment policy against Russia
President Truman increased defense spending 4 fold to support this new policy

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SPACE RACE

Officially began in the late 50s
Group of scientists wanted to put a satellite into space from 58-59

Figure 1. Launch of the

Sputnik rocket. Daily Mail

The launch of the Sputnik Rocket accelerated the race in 1957

Sputnik rotated around the Earth every 90 minutes

Figure 3. Diagram of the Sputnik Rocket. Space

Rocket History

Figure 2. Illustration of the rocket used.

Turbosquiod.com

 The rocket that was used was a ballistic missile

This fact alarmed the West particularly America
Sputnik 2 launched a dog into space one month later
This satellite remained in orbit for 162 days
The dog, of course, did not survive in space

Figure 5. Muttnik. Dingusonmusic

Figure 4. Soviet Dog launched. NBC News

Figure 8. Pioneer 1. NASA

US tried to follow with a launch of Vanguard I but it failed

January 31, 1958, US successfully launched Explorer I

Later that year, NASA was created to beat the Soviets to space by Eisenhower
Eisenhower insisted that the space program is a non-military operation
Pioneer 3 was launched intended for the moon, but failed

Figure 6. Schematic of the Explorer 1. Wikipedia

Figure 7. Launch of the Explorer 1.

Astrodigital

 Luna 1 was launched by the Soviet Union in January of 1959

The mission of the rocket was to orbit the moon but the mission failed
The United States launched Pioneer 4 in March of 1959
This was the first rocket that successfully compete a lunar flyby
On May of 1959, the United States successfully lunched two monkeys and recovered them in the Pacific
Ocean

Figure 9. Luna 1 satellite. Project Britain

Figure 10. Pioneer 4. Sky Rocket

 Luna 3 was lunched in October of 1959 by the USSR and recorded the first pictures of the dark side of the
moon
Ham, a monkey, survives a sub-orbital orbit around the earth aboard the Mercury 2 on January 31, 1961

Soviets one-up the Americans in on April 12, 1961

Vostok 1 launched Yuri Gagarin into orbit around the Earth
Became the first man in space

Figure 13. Vostok 1 module. Bisbos

Figure 12. Luna 3 module. EnglishRussia

 The United States followed suit by launching the first man into space
On May 2, 1961, Alan Shepard piloted Freedom 7 into orbit around the Earth
Becomes first American in space
The flight only lasted for 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles high
Large step forward for the American space program

Figure 14. Freedom 7 Module. Wikipedia

Figure 15. Alan Shepard as he gets out of the Freedom 7. Earthsky

 On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy gives one of his most influential speeches

During this speech, President Kennedy promised to place a man on the moon by the end of the decade
Sparked confidence in the American people that the United States will beat Russia to the moon

Figure 16. JFK as he addresses Congress. Wikipedia

AFTER JFKS SPEECH

In the midst of the Cold war and post Cuban Missile
Crisis, the US was looking for ways to further
military advancements.
It was the United States destiny to beat Russia in
the race to place a human on the moon.

Since space was a vast unknown region, any failure

in research or exploration would result in a lack of
trust and credibility for either country.
The US launched mission after mission, with the
next going more in depth than the previous.

Figure 3
JFK has a televised speech in Texas
President kennedy. history.com. Web. 21
Nov 2015

NASA
NASA was in charge of all non military space
flights and explorations.
Funded by the government, for advancement in
technology.
Between 1961 and 1964 funding increased by
500 percent.
NASA came up with a plan: three space projects
Project Mercury, followed by Project Gemini, and
Project Apollo.

Over 34,000 NASA employees worked during the

space race.
Over 375,000 were employed elsewhere working
to help NASA during this time period.

Figure 3.1
1960 era propaganda between Russia and USA
Cold War Supremacy. Thinglink.com. Web. 21
Nov 2015

MERCURY
Project Mercury was a predecessor set of
missions to the final Apollo that would give details
to help focus on landing a man on the moon.
The Americans were beaten by the Soviet Union,
when Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit
the Earth in April 1961.
Almost a year later, in February 1962, John Glen
became the first American to enter Earth's orbit.
OBJECTIVES
Place a manned spacecraft in orbital flight around the
earth.
Investigate man's performance capabilities and his
ability to function in the environment of space.
Recover the man and the spacecraft safely.

Figure 3.2
The evolution of the Mercury program rockets
Mercury Rockets Nasa.gov. Web. 15 Nov 2015

GEMINI
Project Gemini was the next project after Mercury.

Gemini was used to conduct various experiments in

space and to work out some of the details for a
manned moon mission.
Demonstrated it was possible for two space
vehicles to dock in space.
Four main goals:
Test an astronaut's ability to fly long-duration missions
Understand how spacecraft's could dock in both the
earths and moons orbit
Perfect re-entry and landing methods and protocols
Further understand the effects of space flights on
astronauts

Figure 3.4
Gemini rocket with crew after successful mission.
Gemini Program. Nasa.gov. Web. 10 Nov 2015

APOLLO
The main, and only, goal of the Apollo missions were
to land humans on the moon and return them safely
back to earth.
The first manned mission to the moon was Apollo 8.
It circled around the moon on Christmas Eve in 1968.
Apollo 8 orbited the moon, then came back to Earth.
The crew consisted of Frank Borman, Bill Anders and
Jim Lovell.
Apollo 11 was the first moon landing.
Occurred on July 20, 1969.
The crew consisted of Neil Armstrong, Michael
Collins and Buzz Aldrin.

Figure 3.5
Neil Armstrong Placing a flag on the moon
Apollo Missions. Nasa.gov. Web. 2 Nov 2015

SATURN V
THE MOST POWERFUL ROCKET OF THE SPACE RACE

Figure 4: Apollo resting on the Launchpad.

BACKGROUND

Following the famous speech by JFK declaring that the USA was going to send
mankind to the moon a tremendous effort began to make this a reality.
Constructed under contractors such as Boeing, IBM, North American Aviation, and
Douglas Aircraft Company.
Project headed up by famous and brilliant German scientist Wernher Von Braun.
Headquarters for the project were located in Huntsville, AL.
The basic design was similar to the Aggregate rockets build by Nazi Germany in
the closing days of World War 2.

Figure 5: V-2 Missile

Figure 6: Huntsville AL

Figure 7: Wernher Von Braun

BASIC DESIGN

Because of the immense amount of weight that the Saturn V had a new and novel
staging method of launch was developed.
This allowed excess mass to be shed after each stage was used up, therefore
increasing overall thrust. The rocket had to be able to carry several different
vehicles and also support three astronauts for over a week.
It was determined that the optimal number of stages for the Saturn V was three.
The stages would then fall into the ocean after their fuel had been consumed.
Because of the complexity of this machine many new technologies had to be
developed including propulsion systems, computers, fluid distributions,
insulations, and pressurizing systems.

Figure 8: Third stage and shirt seps

Figure 9: F-1 Engine Inspection

Figure 10: First stage construction

FIRST STAGE
The first and most powerful stage of the rocket was comprised of five liquid
fueled F-1 engines.
Each individual engine was capable of achieving over 1.5 million lbs of force
during liftoff.
Fuel was pressurized before the launch and mixed in a combustion chamber that
ignited the liquid fuel.
The most dependable mixture to fuel the first stage was found to be liquid oxygen
and kerosene.

Figure 11: F-1 engine testing

Figure 12: F-1 engine schematic

Figure 13: Von Braun with F-1s

SECOND STAGE
The second stage of the Saturn V was powered by five J-2 engines.
The entire stage was able to produce the equivalent of slightly over 1.1 million lbs
of thrust.
Fueled by a mixture of cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
Designed to place the Saturn V in a low orbit path around the Earth before the
third stage ignited.
Special bulkheads had to be designed to insulate the 126 degree Fahrenheit
difference between the two fuel chambers.

Figure 14: J-2 engine testing

Figure 15: 2nd stage placement

Figure 16: 1st stage separation

THIRD STAGE
The third stage had a single J-2 engine that was able to reignite after the first orbit
placement burn to launch the vehicle along a lunar intercept path.
The single J-2 engine could achieve 230,000 lbs of thrust.
Fueled by a similar fuel mixture as the second stage with additional precautions
to prevent fuel freezing in the tubes because of the extreme altitudes.
Ullage motors had to be developed that were capable of settling the propellant
and keeping undesirable gases out of the tanks.
Held the lunar module.

Figure 17: 3rd stage J-2

Figure 18: Lunar Module docking

Figure 19: Lunar bay opening

THIRD STAGE
The third stage had a single J-2 engine that was able to reignite after the first orbit
placement burn to launch the vehicle along a lunar intercept path.
The single J-2 engine could achieve 230,000 lbs of thrust.
Fueled by a similar fuel mixture as the second stage with additional precautions
to prevent fuel freezing in the tubes because of the extreme altitudes.
Ullage motors had to be developed that were capable of settling the propellant
and keeping undesirable gases out of the tanks.
Held the lunar module.

Figure 20: 3rd stage J-2

Figure 21: Lunar Module docking

Figure 22: Lunar bay opening

LUNAR MODULE
Designed to carry two astronauts from the Apollo spacecraft down to the Moons
surface.

Was carried in the third stage until after the trans lunar injection burn when it
was attached to the command module.
Consisted of two stages, a descent and an ascent engine.
Carried the necessary equipment for lunar exploration as well as the lunar rover
which allowed astronauts to quickly navigate along the surface.
Fueled by Aerozine and nitrogen tetroxide.

Figure 23: Lunar orbit

Figure 24: Lunar ascent

Figure 25: Lunar landing

COMMAND MODULE
This entire part of the spacecraft was composed of two sections.
The forward compartment of comprised of the reentry vehicle, several reaction
control engines, and the docking tunnel that connect to the lunar lander.

The inner pressurized part of the upper compartment was where the crew lived
for the majority of the space flight.
The lower section of the command module housed all the required propellants,
water, power generation, and much of the required reaction tanks.

Figure 26: Reentry vehicle

Figure 27: Control panels

Figure 28: Odyssey in lunar orbit

TECHNOLOGY FROM THE SPACE RACE

Because of the many different aspects of the Space Race several industries were
greatly expanded because of government funding.
Some of the greatest advances made were in the computer and navigation sectors
of industry.
Several inventions include satellite TV, non-reflective displays, joysticks, GPS, and
virtual reality.
Many advancements were also made in electronics such as microprocessors, hard
drives, transistors, resistors, and capacitors.
The Space Race impacted industries ranging from health, electronics,
communications, data-storage, and propulsions systems.

Figure 23: Modern electronics

Figure 24: Quantum computing

Figure 25: Radio communications

SOVIETS
The Soviet space program can be described as something
with a dual personality.
That is it consists of two parts:
One of which is highly visible and acceptable to the world
public.
While the other moves in a sort of shadow land and is
cloaked in high secrecy.

The USA saw that the soviets where trying to advance in

extra orbital activities, and they did not want this to
happen, at least not to be second behind them in history.

With Communism still present in the USSR, and lack of

funding the soviets found their program not to be much of
a failure, but nothing of great success.
Constant failures and lack of funds caused the soviets to fall
behind many times in the race to land a man on the moon.

Figure 3.6
Sputnik Rocket
Russias Space Program. Nasa.gov. Web. 05 Nov
2015

GENERAL PUBLIC

By landing on the moon, the United States won the

space race.
Americas attention was captivated by the space race.
Interest was facilitated by the new invention of the of
television.
Astronauts came to be seen as the ultimate American
heroes.
Soviets were pictured as the ultimate villains, with
their relentless efforts to surpass America and prove
the power of the communist system.
Figure 3.7
America was enthralled over who would win the race. Americans looking an the moon landing on TV.
The Space Race. History.com. Web. 20 Nov
This encouraged business throughout the nation
2015
based off of technological advancement.

CLOSURE
USAs space shuttle Apollo CSM-111 launched
July 15, 1975 at 7:50 p.m.
Russias space shuttle Soyuz 19 launched July 15,
1975, at 8:20 a.m.
Both were schedule to dock together in space
July 17, 1975, at 12:12 p.m. was the official time
the two vehicles touched and docked.

The hatches between the vehicles were opened

at 3:17 p.m. and the two space crews shook
hands, signaling the official end to The Space
Race.

Figure 3.8
Apollo and Soyuz lock together.
The Space Race. History.com. Web. 23 Nov 2015

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