11th grade The Space Race worksheet

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?

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

   Bo tests the claim "US leaders saw competition as part of the program" against Eisenhower's denial in card A. Which reading is best?

   • The denial settles it, since a President speaks for his whole administration
   • Cards B and D settle the claim, since two later cards outweigh one earlier card
   • One public denial of 1957 against cards B and D: supported, not proven
   • The cards cancel out, so nothing can be said about leaders' views
4. 3.

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

   • Congress, which would approve each defense launch under the Act
   • Both agencies in equal shares, since the Act divides the work in two
   • The Department of Defense, since the activity is primarily associated with defense
   • The civilian agency, since the satellite's technology also serves peaceful science
5. 4.

   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: the share rose, so NASA moved money from other work into research
   • 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
6. 5.

   Total appropriations fell about 13 percent from FY 1965 to FY 1968 on card G. A student says that understates the cut. Is that right, Kira asks?

   • No, the dollars are of each year, so they already include the effect of inflation
   • Yes, prices rose so dollars bought less, but no price index says how much
   • No, appropriations are not spent, so inflation cannot affect them
   • Yes, prices rose by 13 percent, so the real fall was about 26 percent
7. 6.

   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; aid for programs important to defense lets the federal government set standards, including books
   • Yes; the national interest in defense requires federal control during an emergency
   • No; states and local communities retain control, and the aid is for programs important to defense
8. 7.

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

   • As a military achievement, since the call came from the White House to a crew
   • As a sign that peace on Earth had been reached, since the Moon landing proved it
   • As a human achievement tied to peace, not a victory over another country
   • As a victory over the Soviet Union, which the excerpt hints at in its call for peace
9. 8.

   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?

   • Ten months, but "lagged" depends on what feats are compared
   • Yes: ten months, since orbits alone count and nothing else matters
   • No: Shepard flew three weeks after Gagarin, so the gap was small
   • Yes: ten months, since Shepard's flight counts as an orbit
10. 9.

    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 hired its staff after October 1, 1958 and had no earlier workers
    • NASA took the older agency's mission but no part of its staff
    • NASA was formed from the military's space programs, since defense work moved to it
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?

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