Ron Hobbs - Email Interview Transcript
From: Nate Pietraszak
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 11:41 AM
To: Ron Hobbs
Dear Mr. Hobbs,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. As part of my Honors History class, I am constructing a National History Day project on a turning point in history. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by airplanes, flight and space, so I chose
Sputnik and its impact on America's race to space dominance as my project's focus. I really appreciate both your time and answers.
1. How much pressure was there on the American space program to be successful due to possible Soviet superiority?
2. How greatly did wanting to beat the USSR in space impact the American space program?
3. How did Sputnik’s launch change the way the average American viewed space exploration?
4. How was having Wernher von Braun, a German rocket scientist, lead the first successful American satellite project
thought of by the American public?
5. What was the reaction of the American public to the formation of NASA?
If you would like, I’d be happy to call and get your answers over the phone, or you can respond to my email at your leisure. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Ron Hobbs
Sent: Mon 1/21/13 2:46 PM
To: Nate Pietraszak
1 attachment (23.1 KB)
Nate,
I do apologize for my being so late myself now. I hope that you can still use these answers.
Please let me know that you received this email. I would also be willing to speak by phone, if need be.
Good luck with the contest,
Ron Hobbs
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Attached File:
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1. How much pressure was there on the American space program to be successful due to possible Soviet superiority?
Well, remember that there really wasn’t an American space program when Sputnik was launched. NASA was formed in October 1958 in large part due to the embarrassment of the Soviets having launched their satellite first. Before 1958, there were at least two space programs, one run by the Army which employed Wernher von Braun and his group and one by the US Navy. The Air Force might have been doing something as well, but I think they were threatened by these new-fangled rockets. President had decided that the Navy should be the ones to launch their satellite, Vanguard. The delays suffered by the Navy contributed to the Soviets getting their satellite off first, though the Soviet program was very keen on getting into space first.
2. How greatly did wanting to beat the USSR in space impact the American space program?
The desire to demonstrate technological and cultural superiority over the Soviet Union was certainly an important driver in the American space program, particularly John Kennedy’s decision to set our sights on putting men on the Moon and bringing them back safely. There was not the kind of political pressure that was put on the Soviet program.
3. How did Sputnik’s launch change the way the average American viewed space exploration?
The American public had been exposed to dreams of space exploration by movies (such as Destination Moon in 1950), by magazines, and ultimately by Walt Disney and Wernher von Braun. I think that anyone who thought about space exploration in the 1950’s just assumed that America would lead the way. That is part of why Sputnik, which demonstrated that there were other powers (who had nuclear weapons by the way) who had similar aspirations and appeared to be “ahead.”
4. How was having Wernher von Braun, a German rocket scientist, lead the first successful American satellite project thought of by the American public?
I think the American public generally had a positive view of von Braun. Remember he actively surrendered to the Americans instead of allowing his team and him to be captured by the Soviets. Surely, he had some baggage from his participation with the Nazis, but that was overlooked if it was known at all.
5. What was the reaction of the American public to the formation of NASA?
I was eight years old when NASA was founded. From what I remember and learned subsequently, I think there was a general feeling of pride that Americans had decided to explore space under the auspices of a civilian agency, rather than through the military. The
reaction was a feeling that was made explicit in 1969 when we proclaimed that we had come to the Moon “in peace for all mankind.”
Sent: Sat 1/12/13 11:41 AM
To: Ron Hobbs
Dear Mr. Hobbs,
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. As part of my Honors History class, I am constructing a National History Day project on a turning point in history. Ever since I can remember, I have been fascinated by airplanes, flight and space, so I chose
Sputnik and its impact on America's race to space dominance as my project's focus. I really appreciate both your time and answers.
1. How much pressure was there on the American space program to be successful due to possible Soviet superiority?
2. How greatly did wanting to beat the USSR in space impact the American space program?
3. How did Sputnik’s launch change the way the average American viewed space exploration?
4. How was having Wernher von Braun, a German rocket scientist, lead the first successful American satellite project
thought of by the American public?
5. What was the reaction of the American public to the formation of NASA?
If you would like, I’d be happy to call and get your answers over the phone, or you can respond to my email at your leisure. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nate Pietraszak
8th Grader
From: Ron Hobbs
Sent: Mon 1/21/13 2:46 PM
To: Nate Pietraszak
1 attachment (23.1 KB)
Nate,
I do apologize for my being so late myself now. I hope that you can still use these answers.
Please let me know that you received this email. I would also be willing to speak by phone, if need be.
Good luck with the contest,
Ron Hobbs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attached File:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. How much pressure was there on the American space program to be successful due to possible Soviet superiority?
Well, remember that there really wasn’t an American space program when Sputnik was launched. NASA was formed in October 1958 in large part due to the embarrassment of the Soviets having launched their satellite first. Before 1958, there were at least two space programs, one run by the Army which employed Wernher von Braun and his group and one by the US Navy. The Air Force might have been doing something as well, but I think they were threatened by these new-fangled rockets. President had decided that the Navy should be the ones to launch their satellite, Vanguard. The delays suffered by the Navy contributed to the Soviets getting their satellite off first, though the Soviet program was very keen on getting into space first.
2. How greatly did wanting to beat the USSR in space impact the American space program?
The desire to demonstrate technological and cultural superiority over the Soviet Union was certainly an important driver in the American space program, particularly John Kennedy’s decision to set our sights on putting men on the Moon and bringing them back safely. There was not the kind of political pressure that was put on the Soviet program.
3. How did Sputnik’s launch change the way the average American viewed space exploration?
The American public had been exposed to dreams of space exploration by movies (such as Destination Moon in 1950), by magazines, and ultimately by Walt Disney and Wernher von Braun. I think that anyone who thought about space exploration in the 1950’s just assumed that America would lead the way. That is part of why Sputnik, which demonstrated that there were other powers (who had nuclear weapons by the way) who had similar aspirations and appeared to be “ahead.”
4. How was having Wernher von Braun, a German rocket scientist, lead the first successful American satellite project thought of by the American public?
I think the American public generally had a positive view of von Braun. Remember he actively surrendered to the Americans instead of allowing his team and him to be captured by the Soviets. Surely, he had some baggage from his participation with the Nazis, but that was overlooked if it was known at all.
5. What was the reaction of the American public to the formation of NASA?
I was eight years old when NASA was founded. From what I remember and learned subsequently, I think there was a general feeling of pride that Americans had decided to explore space under the auspices of a civilian agency, rather than through the military. The
reaction was a feeling that was made explicit in 1969 when we proclaimed that we had come to the Moon “in peace for all mankind.”