The Space Race (Uncovering the Past: Analyzing Primary Sources)

Astronauts and cosmonauts were the heroes of a 20th Century battle without weapons – the race for global dominance in space. The Space Race explores how the quest to put “a man on the moon” fueled fast-paced scientific research and kept the world occupied with more peaceful pursuits at a time when the world seemed to be on the edge of nuclear annihilation. Readers will learn how to examine primary and secondary source materials, which reveal the political and scientific implications of the space programs in the United States and the former Soviet Union. Teacher’s guide available.