After the Soviet Union sent the first human safely into orbit, the U.S. government doubled down on its effort to win the race to the moon.
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In partnership with American Experience
How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon
A U.S.-Soviet competition in science and engineering took off in 1957 with the launch of Russia’s Sputnik satellite, and culminated in 1969 with the U.S. landing the first humans on the Moon in the Apollo 11 mission.
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Why the Cold War Race for Nuclear Weapons Is Still a Threat
Russian President Vladimir Putin controls the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, and his invasion of Ukraine is a reminder that Russia, the U.S. and many other countries have thousands of nuclear missiles, even as safeguards once in place have fallen away.
The Cold War on TV: Joseph McCarthy vs. Edward R. Murrow
In the heat of the Cold War, Joe McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade became a media sensation.
How the Korean War Changed the Way the U.S. Goes to Battle
In the Cold War, North Korean Communists invaded South Korea. President Truman’s decision to intervene had consequences that shape the world today.
How a Cold War Airlift Saved Berlin With Food, Medicine and Chocolate
A Soviet blockade around Berlin cut the divided city off from the West. But in 1948 U.S. and British pilots began to fly food, fuel and medicine to the Allied sectors.