The Launch of Sputnik I

Tram Nguyen Senior Division Website

A new year of school meant deciding a new topic for National History Day. The theme

this year is "Turning Points in History." I wanted to prepare myself before transitioning to the senior division for 9th grade. I started by researching my area of interest, science and technology. I tried to nd the most ground breaking events to help make a strong connection to the theme. I browsed around until I narrowed my choices down to a few topics. I nally chose the one I thought was the most interesting; space exploration. specically, the launch of Sputnik I. I started my research by reading a summary of Sputnik I on NASA's website to gain

some background knowledge about my topic. Once I understood my topic, I researched online and checked out books from the library to gather secondary sources for my topic. I found a very informative website called "Russian Space Web," that contributed a lot to my project. I also found an online database called "Dwight Eisenhower Library & Museum" which provided a lot of primary sources in the form of documents. I have also contacted and requested to interview Sergei Khrushchev, who was the son of Nikita Khrushchev; the russian president at the time of the launch. I have always felt that I work better when I'm working alone. I wanted to feel

comfortable at my own pace to ensure that I perform my best, which is why I chose to work on an individual project. I didn't have a strong speaking voice for a documentary or a performance. I also found myself fumbling over my exhibit last year and I did not want to create a mess building it like I did last year. A website seemed easier to manage and I felt that it would be the easiest way to present the information on my project. I created a website on Weebly and learned the basic functions of it. I'm using my sources to show the signicance of the launch of Sputnik I

and the impact it had as a turning point in history. I'm using the information I gathered on my topic and displaying on my website. The launch of Sputnik I ushered in a new competitive eld between the U.S and the

U.S.S.R. during the Cold War. It opened up a new area of research and interest; Space, the nal frontier. The launch of Sputnik I was not only a turning point in the Cold War, it was a turning point in general history. The launch of Sputnik I had ignited the Space Race, a erce competition between the U.S and U.S.S.R. To claim the most accomplishments. Both countries tried to shift education towards science and technology to churn out the next generations of scientists and engineers. Today, there is still emphasis on creating the most advance technologies and researching in space with programs like NASA. The launch of Sputnik I created a turning point by establishing a new eld of research, changing the education curriculum, and served as a basis for advancing in technology.