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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Welcome back, hope you enjoyed your trip and learning about the space race!

Key Question Answer: There are many ways all of our events connected, like the IGY causing the launch of Sputnik and Vanguard, then creation of NASA and the many successful and unsuccessful projects they had. As well as Presidents Eisenhower and Kennady and their influence on the events and the space race as a whole. Overall, all of the events are connected in some way and were all important to the United States progress and exploration in space.

Class link: https://forms.office.com/r/KhJtB8kNwc

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President Kennedy explains that the Space Race is important especially compared to what the Soviet Union has accomplished. He said that we as a nation must take larger strides towards greater achievement. He said that as a nation we need to make a newer larger goal for space exploration. He said we should strive to achieve these goals before the decade is over, and he asks Congress for the funds. Now fly over to Virginia to see the first American in orbit!

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NASA Langley Research Center, Nasa Drive, Hampton, VA

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The Headquarters of the Space Task Group (1962)

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NASA Langley Research Center, Nasa Drive, Hampton, VA

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NASA Langley Research Center, Nasa Drive, Hampton, VA

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This is the research spot of Project Mercury, and it was Americas first human flight program. Gilruth was the director of the program. NASA announced that Glenn was the astronaut of the flight, and he had to spend months of training to prepare for the flight. After just over five minuets into the flight, the sustainer engine cut off and Glenn was in orbit. He landed southeast of Cape Canaveral. Overall, his mission showed the progression of American space exploration. Now head over to Alabama to learn about the Saturn V rocket!

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Little Diomede Island is a small 7.3 square kilometers island that is part of Alaska. When the US bought Alaska from Russia the island came with it, but the neighboring Bid Diomede was not a part of the purchase. Russia and the US drew a boundary line between the islands that is referred to as the “ice curtain." In the winter, an ice bridge sometimes forms between the two islands, and it is technically possible to walk between the two countries (although it isn't legal to travel between the two islands).

To start learning about the Space Race in the 1960s head to Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.

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This was the first crewed Apollo mission, tragically, it ended in a fire and claimed the lives of all the astronauts on the crew. The Commander was Grisson who had piloted in space before, senior pilot White, and Chafee a pilot. The first problem was with a “sour smell” that Grisson described as he hooked his oxygen supply to the spacecraft. The next problem was with the high oxygen flow, but overall, it was never really resolved. Their last problem was with communication Grissom was having trouble communicating with the control room. Overall, this tragedy prepared us to do better test runs and take more caution with spacecraft. Now fly over to Florida to see the launch of the first successful moon landing!

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Road Southwest, Huntsville, AL

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Road Southwest, Huntsville, AL

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Martin Road Southwest, Huntsville, AL

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This is the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever flown. It launched a total of 26 astronauts with 6 successful missions. The rocket was built in three stages and was tested and built by private contractors and subcontractors. It was a big challenge to build the rocket considering the size of previous spacecraft like Mercury weighing 2000 or 2500 pounds, but they wanted Saturn V to be 10 or 20 times bigger. It took a large workforce to construct and test this rocket, but once it was finished, it would be one of America’s proudest accomplishments even till this day. Now head over to California to learn about the tragedy of Apollo 1.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958. The Dolly Madison House, also known as “The Little White House," was its first headquarters from 1958 until October 1961. The program was created in response to Soviet advances in space exploration. T. Keith Glennan was the first administrator and Hugh L. Dryden was the first deputy administrator. The main part of the new agency was what was formerly the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). NACA was founded in 1915, with the goal of advancing aeronautics research in the US. NACA included three large research laboratories and two small test facilities, which transferred over to NASA, along with a total of 8,000 employees and its annual budget of $100 million.

Up next is St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, where you will learn about NASA's responsibilities and the Space Task Group.

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Picture from space mission Apollo 11, on the moon. (1969)

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The objective of this mission was set by President Kennedy, and it was to successfully land a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth. They were also requested to explore and grab samples of the lunar surface. They launched July 16, 1969, from Cape Kennedy; Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins were aboard the spacecraft. In total they spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the moon’s surface. They laned back on earth on July 24, 1969. The landing provided Americans with a great sense of accomplishment, as well as winning the space race. Samples from the moon led to groundbreaking discoveries, and it allowed researchers to theorize about the formation of our solar system. One more stop, go to Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, Goldstone Road, Fort Irwin, CA, for your final interest stop!

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St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

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St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

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St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, MO

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President Eisenhower gave NASA overall responsibility for developing America’s human spaceflight program. One was developing a spacecraft that could carry a single human into space and returning them safely. Engineers at the Langley Research Center had been working in this area since 1952. On October 8th, 1958, Glennan formally approved the formation of a team dedicated to this project. On November 5th, the Space Task Group (STG) was created. Robert R. Gilruth was named project manager and Charles J. Donlan as his assistant. With their previous work, the STG was able to release specifications for the capsule on November 14th. They then mailed their plans to 20 companies that had expressed an interest in bidding on the project. On January 9th, 1959, NASA selected the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in St. Louis to develop the spacecraft.

One more stop for the 1950s about the launch of Pioneer 1, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA.

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Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, Goldstone Road, Fort Irwin, CA

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Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, Goldstone Road, Fort Irwin, CA

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Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex, Goldstone Road, Fort Irwin, CA

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An estimated 650 million watched the moon landing showing the extraordinary broadcasting milestone. It was the first all-night British broadcast lasting a continuous 11 hours. The footage inspired many scientists, engineers, and artists. A camera was attached to the landers on the lower stage of the spacecraft, ensuring their ability to capture the mission on camera. Many of the photos were grainy but they were important to the overall progress of broadcasting. Go back home to Harmony to complete your road trip!

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Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA

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Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA

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Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA

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NASA inherited satellite programs from other agencies, the first of these, was a part of a program of lunar orbiters from the U.S. Air Force. Pioneer 1 was launched on Oct. 11, 1958, aboard a Thor-Able rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch was technically under NASA, but the operation was run by the Air Force. Its original mission was to orbit the moon, but due to a rocket malfunction it was unable to. Despite this Pioneer 1 was able to reach an altitude of about 70,000 miles, which was a record at the time. The probe was able to return scientific data that confirmed the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts. It eventually burned upon reentry in the Earth’s atmosphere 43 hours after its launch.

Now that you have learned about the Space Race in the 1950s take a quick break and head to Little Diomede Island, Alaska, for an interest stop.

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In April 1950, physicist James A. Van Allen from Johns Hopkins University and his wife Abigail hosted a dinner party for several distinguished geophysicists. They talked about the idea to hold a third International Polar Year (IPY). After discussion they decided to expand the exploration and not be limited to the Earth's poles, and the International Geophysical Year was created. In May 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) backed the idea and created the Special Committee for the IGY, (CSAGI). Through a series of meetings, the CSAGI decided to make the IGY an 18-month period from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. This made sure it encompassed an entire year in both of Earth’s hemispheres. Seven years of planning led to activities in 11 science fields and had participation from scientists in 67 nations. Both the Soviet Union and the United States announced plans to put satellites into Earth's orbit during the IGY. These plans turned into the launches of Sputnik and Explorer 1 which began the Space Age and led to the many new scientific discoveries. The impressive amount of information collected during the IGY led to the creation of World Data Centers which made the results widely accessible.

Next head to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL to lean about the Vanguard project.

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In December 1957, in response to the Soviet's launch of Sputnik, the US launched the Vanguard Test Vehicle 3. It rose to around 4 feet in the air before the main engine lost thrust, and the rocket fell back down, exploding in a huge fireball. This failed attempt and the competition between organizations to develop our space capabilities led to the creation of NASA. The Vanguard program was eventually successful, on March 17th, 1958, Vanguard 1, which was essentially identical to its failed predecessor, went into orbit. As part of the IGY, Vanguard 1 was the first solar-powered satellite, and showed that Earth is not a perfect sphere, it is somewhat asymmetrical. We lost contact with it in 1964, but Vanguard 1 is the oldest artificial satellite orbiting Earth.

Your next stop is 1520 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC, where you will learn about the creation of NASA.

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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Seneca Valley Senior High School, Seneca School Road, Harmony, PA

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Road trip title: The Space Race

Brief overview: On our trip you will learn about major events, places and causes of the space race in the US, including the creation of NASA, the influence of the presidents, and many of the projects and programs that took place.

Key question: How did all of the events of the space race impact each other?

To start learning about the space race in the 50s and 60s head to Silver Spring MD.