The Space Race

Grade 11 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Cards A to I. Card A, exact: "Our satellite program has never been conducted as a race with other nations. Rather, it has been carefully scheduled as part of the scientific work of the International Geophysical Year." (President Eisenhower, White House statement, October 9, 1957). Card B, exact: "But this is not merely a race. Space is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its meaning is not governed by the efforts of others." (President Kennedy, special message to a joint session of Congress, May 25, 1961). Card C, exact, with cuts marked: "The Congress further declares that such activities shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, a civilian agency exercising control over aeronautical and space activities sponsored by the United States, except that activities peculiar [special] to or primarily associated with the development of … military operations, or the defense of the United States … shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, the Department of Defense; …" (National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, section 102(b)). Card D, exact, with a cut marked: "The preservation [keeping] of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere …" (National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, section 102(c)(5), listed among the objectives of the Act). Card E, exact: "The Congress reaffirms [states again] the principle and declares that the States and local communities have and must retain control over and primary responsibility for public education. The national interest requires, however, that the Federal Government give assistance to education for programs which are important to our defense." (National Defense Education Act of 1958, section 101). Card F, exact: "Because of what you have done the heavens have become a part of man's world. As you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquility, it inspires us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to earth." (President Nixon, telephone call from the White House to the astronauts on the Moon, July 20, 1969). Card G, a table in our words from the NASA Historical Data Book (dollars of each year, in millions, not adjusted for inflation; the share is research and development divided by the total). Fiscal year, total appropriations, research and development, share: FY 1964, 5,099.7, 3,861.5, 75.7 percent; FY 1965, 5,249.7, 4,360.1, 83.1 percent; FY 1966, 5,174.9, 4,502.2, 87.0 percent; FY 1967, 4,967.6, 4,235.1, 85.3 percent; FY 1968, 4,588.8, 3,910.6, 85.2 percent. Appropriations are money Congress made available, not money spent. Card H, a summary in our words: Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union orbited the Earth on April 12, 1961. Alan Shepard became the first American in space on May 5, 1961, on a flight that did not orbit. John Glenn orbited the Earth three times on February 20, 1962. Card I, a summary in our words: Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act in July 1958, and the President signed it on July 29. NASA took over the work of an older research agency, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA began operations about two months later, on October 1, with nearly 8,000 employees.

2. 1.

   Eisenhower said the program was never "a race" (card A); Kennedy said "not merely a race" (card B); the Act names being "a leader" (card D). What does Ari conclude?

   • Eisenhower admitted a race, Kennedy denied it, and the Act took a middle course
   • "Merely" admits a race as part of the aim, and "leader" fits that, while Eisenhower denied it
   • Kennedy rejected competition, and the Act's "leader" confirms the rejection
   • Both presidents denied any competition, and "leader" in the Act means leader in science alone
3. 2.

   Suppose a satellite is built mainly for the defense of the country. Under card C, who directs the work, Esme asks?

   • Both agencies in equal shares, since the Act divides the work in two
   • The civilian agency, since the satellite's technology also serves peaceful science
   • The Department of Defense, since the activity is primarily associated with defense
   • Congress, which would approve each defense launch under the Act
4. 3.

   Card G shows R&D dollars nearly level from FY 1964 to FY 1968 while the total fell. A student says NASA shifted from building to research. Is that fair, Jun asks?

   • Partly: the R&D share rose, but the table does not say what the other money paid for
   • Yes: R&D dollars rose by about ten percent, which shows a shift toward research
   • No: R&D dollars stayed level, so nothing changed in what NASA funded
   • Yes: the share rose, so NASA moved money from other work into research
5. 4.

   Which claim goes beyond what card G shows, Luz asks?

   • The research and development share in FY 1967 was lower than in FY 1966
   • Research and development dollars fell between FY 1965 and FY 1968
   • NASA spent less in FY 1968 than in FY 1965
   • The FY 1968 total was the lowest of the five years shown
6. 5.

   A federal official orders a state to use one textbook in every school. Milo asks if that fits card E.

   • No; card E covers colleges and says nothing about public schools
   • Yes; the national interest in defense requires federal control during an emergency
   • Yes; aid for programs important to defense lets the federal government set standards, including books
   • No; states and local communities retain control, and the aid is for programs important to defense
7. 6.

   In card F Nixon links the landing to efforts "to bring peace and tranquility to earth." How does Noah read the framing?

   • As a victory over the Soviet Union, which the excerpt hints at in its call for peace
   • As a military achievement, since the call came from the White House to a crew
   • As a human achievement tied to peace, not a victory over another country
   • As a sign that peace on Earth had been reached, since the Moon landing proved it
8. 7.

   Card H dates the first Soviet orbit, Shepard's flight and Glenn's orbit. A note says the US lagged ten months in orbit. Is that fair, Pia asks?

   • Yes: ten months, since orbits alone count and nothing else matters
   • No: Shepard flew three weeks after Gagarin, so the gap was small
   • Ten months, but "lagged" depends on what feats are compared
   • Yes: ten months, since Shepard's flight counts as an orbit
9. 8.

   Card I says NASA took over an older agency's work and began with nearly 8,000 employees. What does Ren infer?

   • NASA was built on an older agency's staff and work, not from nothing
   • NASA was formed from the military's space programs, since defense work moved to it
   • NASA took the older agency's mission but no part of its staff
   • NASA hired its staff after October 1, 1958 and had no earlier workers
10. 9.

    Card A was released to the press. Tala asks what it is good evidence of.

    • What the White House privately feared about the Soviet satellite that month
    • What most Americans thought about the Soviet satellite that month
    • How the President wanted the program described, not what he privately feared
    • What the Soviet government said in reply to the President's statement
11. 10.

    Zee's note says: "The Space Act gave the military no role in space work." Using cards C and I, which fix is best?

    • Change it to "gave the military control of each space activity of the country"
    • Keep the note, since NASA took over an older civilian agency's work
    • Change it to "gave NASA the older agency's work and left defense to Congress"
    • Change it to "gave a civilian agency most space work; Defense kept defense work"