The Cold War and the race to space in my opinion will forever have an impact on society. Fields that include politics, economics, national security, physics, environmental, science, and aerospace propulsion plus technologies are a few of a vast spectrum that the Cold War plus the space race has included to affect not society and culture in that generation but also future generations to come. Seen as a dictator Joseph Stalin dictatorial leader of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) has influenced and propel the regime to a technological advancement I do believe many of the scientific advancement in USSR was influenced by the Nazi-Soviet pact (A&E, 2016). I think many of the Nazi scientist worked with Soviet scientist to brainstorm ideas on technology and psychological warfare before the split and the invasion of the USSR (A&E, 2016). Furthermore, Stalin used United States racism issues to the advantage of the USSR by opening up their door to African Americans working in manufacturing or production type job fields that face racism on daily basis to come to the Soviet Union and seek a opportunity that way the Soviets can use individuals as examples of the Soviet system working (Bowles & Kaplan, 2012). I think using not just only United States, but other nation's skilled workers to build up the Soviet Union help bring more science and technology to the Soviets that would influence Sputnik (Bowles & Kaplan, 2012) I think a combination of influences helped the Soviets. By putting the first nation to put an object into space or orbit around the earth caused the United States in my opinion to be concerned with national security (Bowles & Kaplan, 2012) that maybe a reason for a lot of fear that would have a domino affect on foreign policy as well as the global community to draft new policies to reflect the interests of nations not in orbit around the earth at the time. Furthermore, the Russian's success of Sputnik was significant, because it gave an edge to the Russians over the rural America thus causing the Cold War seeming much more real than ever (Bowles & Kaplan, 2012). Sergei Korolev the chief designer of Sputnik gave the Russians for a brief moment a scientific, and cultural advantage by leading the Russians into space plus he is responsible for helping with the success of the American space program (NMDCA, 2005). Sputnik gave Americans new dreams of putting the first human being in space Sergei Korolev knowledge gave the United States an edge since we was the chief designer of Sputnik (NMDCA, 2005). I think Sergei Korolev contributions to American Space Program gave us a leading edge for future generations to come.
Reference:
1.) A&E Television Networks. (2016) Joseph Stalin
Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/joseph-stalin
2.) Bowles, M. & Kaplan, B. (2012). Science and culture throughout history.
Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AULIB332.12.1/sections/sec1.2?search=influence#w2393
3.) New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA). (2005). Sergei P. Korolev - International Space Hall of Fame
Retrieved from http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.php?id=15