What is missile gap?

Missile gap, term popularized during the late 1950s and early 1960s referring to the perception by U.S. government officials that the United States trailed the Soviet Union in ballistic missile technology.

Why is missile gap important?

The Missile Gap was in essence a growing perception in the West, especially in the USA, that the Soviet Union was quickly developing an intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM) capability earlier, in greater numbers, and with far more capability than that of the United States.

What was the missile gap quizlet?

The missile gap was the difference in how much the United States had compared to how much the Soviet Union had.

Was there a bomber gap?

The bomber gap was the Cold War belief that the Soviet Union’s Long Range Aviation department had gained an advantage in deploying jet-powered strategic bombers. Surveillance flights by the U-2 aircraft indicated that the bomber gap did not exist.

How did the space race impact US society?

While it often fuelled Cold War rivalry and paranoia, the Space Race also yielded considerable benefits for human society. Space exploration required and produced rapid improvements and advances in many fields, including telecommunications, micro-technology, computer science and solar power.

What was the missile gap identified in the 1950s?

What was the “missile gap” identified in the 1950s? The USSR, according to a report, was ahead in ICBM technology. The Soviets had a lot fewer ICBMs than the United States. The distance ICBMs flew between continents was referred to as a “gap.”

What was one result of the space race?

The Space Race brought pioneering launches of artificial satellites, robotic space probes to the Moon, Venus, and Mars, and human spaceflight in low Earth orbit and ultimately to the Moon.

What is meant by flexible response?

Flexible Response, also called Flexible Deterrent Options (FDO), U.S. defense strategy in which a wide range of diplomatic, political, economic, and military options are used to deter an enemy attack.

What bomber was designed during the Cold War?

Douglas XB-43. Essentially a jet version of the XB-42, the XB-43 began development in September 1944. The Army Air Force wanted the XB-43 to carry an 8,000 pound payload, fly at 420 miles per hour at an altitude of 40,700 feet and have a range1,445 miles. Two aircraft were developed for testing.

Why was it so important to win the Space Race?

The Space Race was considered important because it showed the world which country had the best science, technology, and economic system. After World War II both the United States and the Soviet Union realized how important rocket research would be to the military. The Russians had taken the lead in the Space Race.

How has NASA benefited our society?

NASA’s expenditures ripple throughout the economy, supporting critical industries, creating new businesses and jobs, and attracting students to science and engineering. NASA invests in technologies and discoveries for the future, and in the process, it delivers social and economic impacts that benefit the nation today.