Vostok 1957

Korolev 1957

Sputnik and Its Impact

• liquid fuel, multi-stage developed by Sergei Korolev
  

• but AF's Atlas not ready - "missile gap" by critics
  

Sputnik II launched Nov. 3 - 1120 lbs - Laika, not Checkers

• Laika died in space - no landing of capsule
  

• same day as 40th anniversary of Russian Revolution
• agreed with Gaither Report for new programs - 1
• especially the "big job of molding public opinion as well as avoiding extremes. We must get the American public to understand that we are confronting a tough problem that we can lick."

LBJ's Preparedness subcommittee investigation Nov. 28

Vanguard rocket with 1st satellite failed Dec. 6

• exploded 2 seconds after ignition at Cape Canaveral on live TV

Explorer I launched Jan. 31, 1958 - 31 lbs - 1

• Jupiter rocket carried the first of 31 satellites launched during Ike's presidency
• newspaper headlines from Huntsville Times - 1

Life mag. story "Crisis in Education" Mar. 24, 1958

Lyndon Johnson led Congress to create NASA July 16 as the nation's civilian space agency

• NASA began Mercury project using Atlas rocket

midterm elections in Nov. 1958 won by Democrats

next - Kitchen Debate

Sources:

• Beschloss, Michael R. MAYDAY: Eisenhower, Khrushchev and the U-2 Affair. New York: Harper, 1986.
• Crankshaw, Edward. Khrushchev: A Career. New York: Viking, 1966.
• Hobbes' Internet Timeline
Orders of Magnitude: A History of the NACA and NASA, 1915-1990 by Roger E. Bilstein, from NASA's history publications