For this lesson please watch the documentary linked below. After viewing the documentary, you should be able to:
describe the Cold War conditions that drove developments in space travel during the 1950s and 1960s
summarize at least two technical challenges that NASA had to solve in the attempt to land a man on the moon
Please watch the documentary video linked below. You only need to watch part of the video: from the start to 36 minutes in, and then minute 55 to the end. This will allow you to view it in two roughly half-hour segments.
As you watch, think about the following questions (and consider writing down some examples from the video):
Beginning in 1957 with Sputnik, the United States was often second in the race to space. What were two examples of accomplishments that the Soviet Union completed before the United States?
How did political leaders and the American public respond to being second in space developments, particularly in the international context of 'proving' democracy was better than communism?
What are two achievements or technical tasks that NASA had to accomplish in order to make a successful landing on the moon? These might be skills or technologies they developed or test in the Gemini or Apollo missions in the lead-up to the Apollo 11 mission.