Which of the following was a U.S. reaction to news of Soviet exploration in space?
I. the launching of a dog into space
II. the creation of the CIA
III. the launching of Sputnik I
IV. the creation of NASA
III. the launching of Sputnik I
The correct answer is III. the launching of Sputnik I and IV. the creation of NASA.
I. The launching of a dog into space: This statement is incorrect. The Soviet Union was the first to send a dog named Laika into space on November 3, 1957, as a part of their space exploration efforts.
II. The creation of the CIA: This statement is incorrect. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was created in 1947, well before the Soviet Union's achievements in space exploration.
III. The launching of Sputnik I: This statement is correct. The United States reacted to the news of Soviet exploration in space with shock and concern when the Soviet Union successfully launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, on October 4, 1957. This event marked the beginning of the space age and triggered the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
IV. The creation of NASA: This statement is correct. In response to the Soviet Union's success with Sputnik I, the United States established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on July 29, 1958. NASA was created to coordinate and manage all non-military space exploration efforts undertaken by the United States.
To find the answer, we need to understand the U.S. reaction to news of Soviet exploration in space. One way to do this is by considering the historical context.
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a space race. The Soviet Union made significant advancements in space exploration, which put pressure on the United States to respond. Now let's examine each option to see if it matches the U.S. reaction:
I. the launching of a dog into space: This refers to the Soviet mission in which they sent a dog named Laika into space. This was a Soviet accomplishment, not a U.S. reaction, so it is not the answer.
II. the creation of the CIA: The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) was established in 1947, years before the Soviet exploration of space. Therefore, it is unrelated to the U.S. reaction to Soviet space exploration and not the answer.
III. the launching of Sputnik I: Sputnik I was the first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. This event had a profound impact on the U.S. It caught the U.S. by surprise and sparked concerns about national security and technological superiority. The U.S. reaction to Sputnik I was significant, making it a potential answer.
IV. the creation of NASA: NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created by the U.S. government in 1958, shortly after the launch of Sputnik I. Its establishment was a direct response to the Soviet space achievements, aiming to reclaim U.S. leadership in space exploration. Therefore, the creation of NASA is the correct U.S. reaction to the news of Soviet exploration in space.
In conclusion, the correct answer is IV. the creation of NASA.