National technological and military prestige heavily influenced the development of early United States space policy

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the relationship between U.S. space policy and: 1) national technological prestige 2) military superiority 3) and ultimately the political competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. The paper will focus primarily on national and military prestige, while briefly touching on the price tag of the early space advancements. It will concentrate on the early days of space exploration. The thesis will examine the impact the Russian satellite, Sputnik, had on the American people and the reaction of the United States. The thesis will also look at the beginning of the Apollo program and the decision to send man to the Moon. In conclusion, the thesis will look at a possible future for the United States space program and analyze the decision of America's leaders to abandon ambitious endeavors since the Apollo Moon landing.