During the Space Race, propaganda was very important in how people viewed the USA and the USSR.

• The USSR used propaganda to show off their technology, especially after they launched Sputnik in 1957. This was seen as a huge win for socialism and made people believe that the Soviets were ahead in science and technology.

• In reply, the USA stepped up their propaganda too. They focused on their own big achievements, like the Apollo moon landing in 1969. They presented this as a victory for democracy and capitalism over communism.

Both countries wanted to boost national pride and reassure their people about their beliefs:

• Propaganda highlighted:
  • Successes: Every time either country hit an important milestone, newspapers and TV celebrated. This strengthened the idea that their way of government was better.
  • Challenges: When things went wrong, they often downplayed their failures or twisted the story to blame the other side. This way, they kept their people feeling good.

Schools also joined in these propaganda efforts, teaching kids to see space exploration as a sign of national strength. Because of this, the Space Race made people feel a strong sense of urgency and pride. They believed they were part of an important competition for technology.

In summary, propaganda not only told the story of the Space Race but also made sure that people's feelings supported the goals of both superpowers during the Cold War.