The Space Race

On October 4th, 1957, in the midst of the Cold War, Russia launched the first satellite into space: Sputnik. This initiated what is now known as the "Space Race". This sent the United States into overdrive, and NASA was swiftly opened on July 29th of the following year. Committed to winning, on May 25th, 1961, President John F. Kennedy promised to have a man on the moon by the end of the decade. The battle raged on, with many successes and failures on each side. The Space Race finally came to an end on July 16th, 1969 with the successful launch of Apollo 11. 4 days later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin touched down on the surface of the moon, declaring victory for the United States.

Brief Overview:

Impacts

Technological Advancements and Innovation
Feelings of National Pride
Decrease in Soviet Economics
American Economic Growth
Educational Advancements
Transformation of the Job Market
Creation of the Space Industry
Collaboration Between the Government and Private Companies

National Defense Education Act

The National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was created to "improve and strengthen all levels of the American school system and to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school", particularly in STEM areas. After the launch of Sputnik, Americans believed the US education system to be inferior to that of the Soviet Unions, especially in the regards of cultivating young scientists and engineers. Under the guise of national security, the NDEA was signed into law on September 2, 1958. How does it impact us today? The NDEA directly impacts modern schooling through the inclusion of STEM classes as core curriculum and an increase in programs for gifted students. Alongside this, it provided loans and scholarships to students in higher education, impacting the growth of college graduation rates and a more educated workforce. Funding provided by the NDEA helped to significantly improve educational facilities, which greatly impacted modern schooling. Finally, the NDEA proved the effectiveness of federal funding in education, an issue which was, and still is, heavily contested.