Steven Holt: “Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1231. Let's review the technological, scientific, and…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1231. Let's review the technological, scientific, and political accomplishment that the TIROS I satellite represents. In October of 1957, the launch by the Soviet Union of the Sputnik satellite struck fear in the hearts of Americans. Sputnik II went into space weighing over 1,000 pounds and carrying a dog. Meanwhile, the United States was developing far smaller satellites and experiencing troubles and public setbacks. On December 6, 1957, a Vanguard rocket failed to launch a U.S. satellite into space when it exploded on national television. In January 1958, the U.S. successfully launched a 31-pound Explorer I satellite, but even this victory was quickly followed by the loss of another Vanguard satellite in February. As the early space race continued through 1958 and 1959, the Soviet Union always seemed to be a step ahead of the United States. The shock of Sputnik and the fear that the United States was losing its competitive edge inspired a national effort to prove and improve American leadership in the fields of science, math, and engineering.”