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Giant Leaps for Mankind

Evaluating the Expansion of Satellite Technology on American Soceity

 

A Motivated Society

Americans have always been ambitious people, and this motivation can be seen throughout much of the nation’s past. The country’s strength has been tested many times during its recent history, particularly throughout the Cold War era. Tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States presented a sense of competition for the role of the dominant superpower; however this competition may have been healthy. While it was not beneficial for U.S. foreign relations, it provided much motivation for a rapid increase in technology. The drive to remain in the lead of the Space Race placed the United States in a position to accomplish more with satellite technology. By examining various sources which note the progress of satellite technology, one can see its increasing prevalence throughout American history, as well as how this technology has evolved and expanded on a global level. Over time, these innovations have led to technological developments which help citizens on a daily basis, such as cable broadcasting, communications systems, and GPS systems. Americans in today’s society can thus reap the benefits of the strive to explore the world of space.

A Brief History Behind the Satellite’s Development

By examining the second half of the twentieth century, one can see the transformation of satellite technology, from humble beginnings in 1957 to later developments in areas such as communications. The idea of using geosynchronous satellites for methods of communication was first suggested by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke in 1945, however the satellite era did not truly begin until 1957 with the launch of the Soviet rocket Sputnik (National Research Council, 17). The late ‘50s and ‘60s then fostered a period of technological improvement in the area of space exploration, as seen in the timeline below. Over a span of roughly ten years, there was rapid increasing interests of this technology, which can largely be attributed to competition amongst the nation’s rival superpower, the Soviet Union.

Just three months after the Soviet launch of Sputnik I, the United States successfully launched Explorer I, marking the nation’s entrance into the Space Race on January 31, 1958 (SSPI: “Satellite Timeline“). Clearly, the nation had no intentions of falling behind in the advance of space technology. Further examining the timeline above shows additional U.S. advances in space, culminating with the launch of Apollo 11, putting the first man on the moon in 1969. Though the Soviets had been the first nation to launch a satellite, America’s role as the first country to put a man on the moon took the Space Race to a new level. Ultimately, the most effective way to describe the achievement is through Neil Armstrong’s infamous words, as a “giant leap for mankind.” Increasing sentiment among scientists and political leaders to increase space technology grew rapidly during this era, and it is possible that this was largely attributed to the effort to maintain the role as a dominant super power. President John F. Kennedy explained to the public that the nation chose to go to the moon not because it was easy, but because it was hard: “Because that challenge is one we’re willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win” (NASA: Years of Glory: “NASA: The 25th Year“). This statement suggests that reaching the moon was a challenge only the most powerful nation could “win.” His words serve as an example of the mentality during his presidency, which was motivated by an increasing sense of competition to stay ahead of other nations.

 

Above is a wordle of an address given by John F. Kennedy before the 18th General Assembly of the United States. It was given on September 20, 1963—in the midst of the Space Race and the Cold War era, discussing many of the issues surrounding the war, including the drive to increase space exploration. One might already know this simply by looking at the image, since the words “Soviet” “space” and “race” are all present and are sizable in comparison to other words. “Must”, “peace”, and “world” appear the largest, which is logical because “world peace” was difficult to imagine at a time when two of the world’s superpowers were at odds with each other. However, peace was still an idealistic aim which Kennedy felt the nation “must” achieve at the time. His persistent use of the word “must” suggests that he had goals for the nation to fulfill. Additionally, the words “new”, “people”, and “believe” also stand out, all of which enforce the hope and potential progress of the United States. Though the word “satellite” is not present, “science”, “education”, and “communications” are there, which all serve as components in the development of satellite technology, and present a desire to expand in the world of science. This wordle is an accurate portrayal of the mentality during the Space Race/Cold War era, as well as the underlying motivations which helped keep the American spirit of determination alive, even during a prolonged period of tense foreign relations.

A Globalized Society: the Impact of Satellite Technology on a Domestic and Global Level

1958 was a monumental year in the expansion of space exploration in the United States. Following the launch of the Explorer I, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, otherwise known as NASA, was established as an agency of the federal government (Bromberg, 1). This was highly influential in the future of space exploration and satellite technology throughout the United States. The expansion of this organization throughout the country can be best understood by examining a map such as the one below.


View The Development and Spread of NASA in a larger map

Looking at a few of the various branches of NASA, it becomes clear that there was a vast increase in space technology nationwide. The establishment of branches in multiple locations such as Florida, Ohio, and California suggest that the emergence of this technology heavily effected the population. It created jobs and research facilites while also providing the public was new technologies. Its formation was inspired by NACA (the National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics), an organization less advanced than its successor, which seldom designed specific vehicles and instead focused on generic research (Bromberg, 17). The change from NACA to NASA, which can be seen on the interactive map, presents a progression in the development of satellite technologies, and a transition from research and analysis to construction and exploration. The Space Race of the 1950s was not only felt on a global level; there was also a strong desire to advance in technology solely within the United States.

Continuing from this era into later years, one can see the global spread of satellite technology and space exploration. The process unfolded at a more gradual space, eventually spanning across the globe, as seen in the interactive map below.

View The Global Reach of Satellite Technology in a larger map

The map shows the spread of satellite technology over various continents. But upon studying the events and descriptions, it becomes clear that at some locations, launches were led by a different country. For example, in Woomera, South Australia, Prospero X-3 was not launched by Australia, but Great Britain (SSPI: “Satellite Timeline“). In addition, the Soviet Union launched Aryabhatta, India’s first satellite. This presents the expansion and exposure of satellite technology to multiple nations, in addition to the interaction of nations over a common cause: space exploration. The contact between these countries exemplifies how the development of satellite technology has fostered a more globalized world. Looking at both of these interactive maps, it is clear that satellite technology has influenced global interaction and international relations with the United States. A more globalized world has heavily impacted the culture of America, which can be seen in its development since the beginning of the Space Race era.

The Evolution of Satellite Technology

A good portion of the technological advances of more recent times have been developed through satellite technology, for purposes spanning from telecommunications to entertainment. This is evident by looking at the timeline below, which displays achievements through satellite technology from the 1970s to the 1990s.

 

The timeline presents the advent of global broadcast stations such as CNN, and additional communication advances. These were found to have several advantages over land-based commuications: global coverage can be established with only a few relay hops, and Earth stations can be set up and moved quickly (National Research Council, 18). As society becomes more fast-paced, it is logical that a high-speed communications system would be a wiser choice as a form of communication. Developments such as DIRECTV present progress in the field of entertainment, demonstrating how satellites have evolved from forms of space exploration to forms of entertainment.

Another way to observe the evolution of satellite technology is through the publication of books discussing this topic over time; this is made possible through the use of Ngram. The following Ngram viewer graphs display the publication of books over the course of roughly fifty years:

The first Ngram pictured above is evaluating the use of the word “satellites” and the second, the phrase “satellite technology.” Looking at the first graph, there is a clear peak in the use of the word “satellites” circa 1962-63. This is slightly puzzling, since the first American satellite, Explorer I, was launched in early 1958 (SSPI: “Satellite Timeline“). There is a steady increase during this time period, however the peak in the graph is not until several years later. This could be because after such an achievement was made, there were high hopes of accomplishing more and gaining a lead in the Space Race.
The second Ngram graph does not show a peak until around 1980. This could be due to technological increases via the use of satellites, such as the launch of CNN in 1980 and cable TV satellites in 1983 (SSPI: “Satellite Timeline“). There is another increase around 1994 with the advent of DIRECTV. Several years later around the year 2000 there is another rise in the graph, and the use of the phrase “satellite technology” appears to be common for the remainder the graph. The growth of this phrase in later years demonstrates both the influence and evolution of the satellite over time.

In Conclusion

 

By looking at these sources which illustrate the evolution and spread of the satellite, one can argue that the motivation to launch satellites in the late 1950s led to the beginning of new technological developments. This would change the role of the U.S. on a global level. The Space Race and Cold War tensions fostered a desire to advance the development of satellite technology in the United States. This drive facilitated additional progress via the satellite, which has led to a more advanced and globalized American society. By looking at the history, expansion, and evolution of the satellite, it becomes clear that the motivation for this development can account for today’s society which is driven by technology.

Works Cited

“1964 Summer Olympics.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 16 December 2012. Web. 4 December 2012.

“Baikonur Cosmodrome.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 10 December 2012. Web. 13 December 2012.

Bromberg, Joan Lisa. NASA and the Space Industry. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999. Print.

“Dong Fang Hong I.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 14 December 2012. Web. 15 December 2012.

“Intelsat.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 3 December 2012. Web. 4 December 2012.

John F. Kennedy: “Address Before the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations.,” September 20, 1963. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=9416.

NASA: Years of Glory. “The NASA: The 25th Year.” Eastman Kodak Company. 1983. American History in Video. Web. 6 December 2012.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Evolution of Untethered Communications. The Evolution of Untethered Communications. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1997. Print.

“Satellite Timeline.” SSPI. The Society of Satellite Profesisonals International, n.d. Web. 10 October 2012.

Swenson, Loyd S. Jr. “The Fertile Cresent: The South’s Role in the National Space Program.” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 71 No. 3. pag. 377-392. Web. 10 December 2012.



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