Sputnik I launched Oct. 4, 1957 - 184 lbs - 1st satellite
Sputnik II launched Nov. 3 - 1120 lbs - Laika, not Checkers
- Laika died in space - no landing of capsule
Rockefeller and Gaither Reports 11/57 - like NSC-68
Ike national TV address Nov. 7 - need for reassurance
- 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."
Ike's 3rd stroke Nov. 26, 1957 - 1
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
- but Atlas successful Dec. 17, flew 600 mi. from Cape Canaveral
Ike created civilian ARPA for anti-missile research Jan. 22
Explorer I launched Jan. 31, 1958 - 31 lbs - 1
Ike created Killian Committee Feb. 4 to reorganize America's space and rocket program
- MIT President James Killian was Presidential Assistant for Science
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
Ike created civilian ARPA for anti-missile research Jan. 22
Explorer I launched Jan. 31, 1958 - 31 lbs - 1
Ike created Killian Committee Feb. 4 to reorganize America's space and rocket program
- MIT President James Killian was Presidential Assistant for Science
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
1958 - Year of Great Tests - Hardtack series until Aug. 22
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.
revised 4/5/02 by Schoenherr | Cold War Policies