Sputnik, 50 Years Later: Race to the Moon

Ironically, the first race to the moon juxtaposed contrasting political ideologies as well, with the Communist Soviet regime pitched against the U.S. democracy. The difference between the first space race and one that may be shaping up today is the playing field. In the late 1950s, both the Soviets and the Americans were space rookies and both acquired missile technology from the Germans after World War II.

"Now the United States is at a disadvantage," said Johnson-Freese. "We made it look too easy."

Four years ago, China became the only other country besides the United States and Russia to launch people into orbit. A second, more sophisticated flight with two astronauts aboard occurred in 2005. A third mission is planned for next year.

Why the Moon? Why Now?

The reasons for going to the moon likewise have shifted. The first space race provided the Americans and the Soviets a virtual battleground to display their technology prowess without actually going to war. Fearful of an attack, the United States shoveled money into its space program out of a sense of national security.

Funding for Defense Department space programs continues to climb, but so far the military has no interest in a moon base, leaving NASA without the political imperative that drove Apollo.

"I think it does matter if we're not on the moon first," Johnson-Freese said. "If we're working on a moon program and China is working on a moon program and they get there first then I think there would be a perception of a leadership issue."

"We're at a cross-roads," she added. "The next 50 years are up in the air."

The opening salvos of the new space age are imminent. NASA plans to launch its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter next year to get a better idea of resources and scout landing sites for a permanent moon base. It likely will be the late-comer, with probes operated by Japan, China and India already in orbit.

Editor's note:

This is the second of a three-part series on Sputnik. Part III: The search for life beyond Earth.

Related Links:

Listen to an audio history of Sputnik.

Sputnik: A NASA history

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Sputnik page

SpaceDaily.com