BBC
Bbc: Space Race
There are galaxies far, far away, but just how big is our own solar system? Scroll through this interactive to quickly observe just how much we know and have learned about our solar system.
NASA
Nasa: The International Geophysical Year
This site from NASA outlines the Sputnik program and the political underworkings that allowed it to reach fruition.
Have Fun With History
Have Fun With History: Space Race: Nasa Space Program
Learning module with multi-media resources, activities and videos on NASA, the Kennedy space program that dominated the 1960s.
NASA
Nasa: Aeronautical/astronautical Events of January March 1961
This NASA site offers a timeline of significant events in the space race during this brief frame of time, with some discussion of the prestige involved.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Quiz: Space Race of the Cold War for Kids
History Questions: Space Race Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
NASA
Nasa: Tests Versus Time in the Race for Space
This NASA site offers a good description of the ongoing space race during the Kennedy administration, discussing the "nip and tuck" of the Soviet-U.S. race. Also includes a description of Kennedy's new special assistant for science and...
A&E Television
History.com: Why the Air Force Almost Blasted the Moon With an H Bomb
Detonating a thermonuclear weapon on the moon? It sounds like the bizarre scheme of a deranged comic-book villain -- not a project initiated inside the U.S. government. But in 1958, as the Cold War space race was heating up, the U.S. Air...
History Link
History Link: Century 21: The Seattle World's Fair Part 1
Captivating site chronicles the history of the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, also known as Century 21. This event gave Seattle it's most well-known landmark, the Space Needle. Discusses the uphill battle to get a World's Fair in Seattle...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: The Cold War
This is a collection of 16 Grade-Leveled texts (6-12) on the topic The Cold War. After America and the Soviet Union fought as allies in World War II, a new "cold" war emerged between the two superpowers characterized not by direct...
Other
Lebensraum: Living Space for the German Race
Resource provides a discussion of the concept of "Lebensraum," or "living space" for the German people. This was one of Hitler's main justifications for his military conquests.
Other
Historic Wings: "One Small Step" Race to the Moon
"One Small Step, The Race To The Moon" is a clear presentation of the story of the Moon landing program that the United States conducted during the 1960's and early 1970's. After launching the presentation click on the phases of the Moon...
Flow of History
Flow of History: Nuclear Arms Race
The events and countries involved in the nuclear arms race are profiled. Text plus a colored graphic flowchart make the topic visually appealing and of interest to both students and educators.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Apollo to the Moon
This resource offers an in-depth exploration of the U.S. space program and the role President John F. Kennedy took in setting the agenda for manned space flight to the moon.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Russian Lunar Missions
Details the Russian lunar missions from Luna 1 to Zond 8.
Other
Iki: Russian Space Research Institute
The official site for the "leading organization of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the field of investigations of Outer Space, Solar System planets and other objects of the Universe"
Other
We Choose the Moon
Feel like you were right there when Apollo 11 was launched as you listen to the actual Mission Control audio from that date. The mission is further brought to life by photos and video of the event as well as a virtual animation. Go...
PBS
Pbs: Red Files: Secret Soviet Moon Mission
PBS offers biographies and stories from the early days of the Soviet Space program, which prompted the Space Race and nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union.
Other
Historic Wings: John Glenn Friendship 7
The story of America's first astronaut to orbit the earth during the Mercury Space program. After launching the program click on continue or on the numbers to learn about the story of the Mercury program and the first American to orbit...
Other
Flickr: Project Apollo Archive: Albums
Browse through over 200 albums of more than 13,000 photographs taken of all of the Apollo space journeys. This project provides a visual history of the space race.
NASA
Nasa: Salyut 4
Overview of the Salyut 4 space station mission and instrumentation. Has a great picture of the computer rendering of the space station.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: Space Program
In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik and had an astronaut orbit the moon a few years later. The U.S. was shocked and vowed to not be left behind. Examine how JFK rallied the country and Congress to get behind the race...
The Newberry Library
The Newberry: Chicago Defined: Space and Place, Homes and Journeys
Learning module examines how writers and artists have portrayed the city of Chicago as well as the response to the city's changing population and character during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Primary sources and questions for...
The History Place
The History Place: The Triumph of Hitler: Hitler Reveals War Plans
Describes Hitler's maneuvers to rebuild Germany's military strength, even as he lied to other world leaders, and his disclosure to his military commanders of his plans to expand German territory so as to acquire more space for his...
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Sputnik's Legacy
This exploratory article (published September 11, 1997) outlines the history of the Sputnik Space program, but also includes the response within the United States educational system to speedily ramp up the study of science, math and...