How The Cold War Created Astrobiology

Cold War and Astrobiology
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Cold War and Astrobiology
Cold War encompasses the extended period of enmity between the United States (U.S.) and the USSR after the end of the WWII till the early 1990s. Astrobiology concerns itself with unearthing life from its incidence through evolution. Cold War cultivated rivalry matters science and technology between the warring countries. This led to the creation of NASA responsible for landmark developments in astrobiology as a direct response to the USSR after launching the first orbit satellite. This paper investigates the link between the Cold War and astrobiology.
Cold War marks an extended period where the Eastern bloc and the Western bloc were at loggerheads. The tension extended from 1947 through 1991 (Gaddis, 2005). Large-scale fighting was absent between the U.S. and the USSR thus the term “cold” war. However, both sides supported a series of major regional wars. The War emerged after the World War II largely driving attention away from Nazi Germany to the U.S. and the USSR. The USSR led by the Communist Party exercised Marxism whereby the media, the military, and the economy was controlled by the government. In contrast, the U.S. exercised democracy whereby the government had minimal control over the press, the military, and the economy (Gaddis, 2005). Although the USSR and the U.S. never engaged in a fully-fledged combat, each side was armed with nuclear weapons. The philosophy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) where the attacker was assured of a deadly assault discouraged either side from starting a war (Gaddis, 2005).

The initial phase of the Cold War commenced in 1947 (Gaddis, 2005). The USSR rallied support among countries in the Eastern Bloc while the Western Bloc rallied global support to mitigate Soviet power. Consequently, a series of wars occurred in Berlin, Germany, China as well as Korea (Gaddis, 2005). The USSR appeared to have more power and influence than the U.S. with the allies of the former winning in most of the wars.
A missile crisis (1962) in Cuban marked the commencement of a new phase (Gaddis, 2005). It negatively impacted the USSR as well as the U.S. A Sino-Soviet split affected the USSR while the U.S. weakened from the increased independent action exhibited by its allies, especially France. In the 1970s, both warring countries became interested in diplomacy to create a predictable global economy (Gaddis, 2005). This led to the creation of a pact between the USSR and the U.S. to mutually stop creating nuclear weapons. However, the USSR contravened the pact when it assaulted the machinery of the U.S. and its cronies. The U.S. exerted unprecedented military and economic pressure on an already weakening economy of the USSR.
In the 1980s, the then newly elected leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev established a liberal governance system (Gaddis, 2005). The governance system was marked by increased reorganization and openness. The need for national independence escalated in a majority of the countries constituting the Eastern Bloc. Consequently, a series of revolutions emerged that caused a majority of communist regimes to be overthrown. In 1991, the Communist Party experienced an unfruitful coup that saw it banned (Gaddis, 2005). Consequently, the Eastern Bloc collapsed with the dissolving of the USSR as well as other communist regimes.
Astrobiology
Life in the universe is studied through astrobiology. To facilitate the inquiry of life beyond the earth, it is necessary to gain an understanding of life, the surrounding environment as well as stellar processes (Dick & Strick, 2005). Astrobiology combines the knowledge from varied disciplines, such as the sciences, geology, and oceanology to facilitate the understanding of life. The origin and evolution of life constitute an integral part of life. The existing scientific data is analyzed and interpreted through astrobiology. Theories postulated by the founding disciplines of astrobiology – biology, chemistry, and physics – may be disapproved when alternative data from the Moon and other planets is gathered and analyzed (Dick & Strick, 2005). Hypotheses exhibiting congruence with contemporary scientific theories are the underpinning of astrobiology. Thus, alternative bio data derived from the Moon and distant planets is requisite to evaluate varied hypotheses.
Astrobiology seeks to unearth information about the incidence and proliferation of life, evidence of life having existed in distant planets and the challenges that flora and fauna might face when adapting to the outer space. The Big Bang which occurred about 14 billion years ago is assumed to be the precursor of life (Dick & Strick, 2005). At this time, the universe is estimated to have been between 10 and 17 million years old (Dick & Strick, 2005). Small solar system bodies – meteoroids and asteroids – are linked to the spread of microscopic life thus microscopic life may exist on the Moon and distant planets. Further, larger galaxies have been reported to be better habitable grounds of life compared to smaller galaxies, such as the Milky Way galaxy. However, Earth is the only part of the universe known to support life (Dick & Strick, 2005).
Cold War and Astrobiology
Astrobiology plays a critical role in the space exploration plans adopted by an agency such as National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For example, recent space explorations have focused on finding traces of life on other planets such as Mars and the moon (Dick & Strick, 2005). NASA plays a lead role in making policies as well as funding astrobiology in the U.S.
The possibility of there being other habitable grounds beyond planet is supported by various factors – estimates that show other stars are habitable, numerous extra-solar planets being unearthed and emerging insights showing that earth could have more extreme conditions than certain planets and stars (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). The Cold War fostered a period of intense animosity between the U.S. and the USSR. It marked a period where the two countries were in direct competition to display political and technological power. Political power was displayed through the opposing form of governments – Marxism and democratic form of government. Technological power was displayed through creating sophisticated weapons. Ballistic missiles that forced the WWII to come to an end were used by each side to display technological power. The creation of nuclear weapons then followed. However, both countries agreed to desist from creating nuclear weapons in the 1970s. This led to a fierce battle in the realm of science and technology (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008).
Space exploration later dubbed as the space race become a major ground of contest between the USSR and the U.S. as the War intensified. To emphasize America’s leading role in technology, the Department of Defense was fervent on rocket science and the study of the upper atmosphere. President Dwight D. Eisenhower contributed immensely to astrobiology when he gave consent to a plan intended on gathering scientific data through orbiting satellite (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). The USSR declared its intentions to orbit a satellite in quick response to America’s action.
In 1957, Sputnik 1 was launched by the USSR, as its first step towards space exploration (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). Consequently, the public significantly lost confidence in the ability of the American government matters science and technology. In response to this direct challenge, the U.S. devoted vast resources – time and money – towards policies and programs geared towards space exploration.
In 1958, the first Earth satellite dubbed Explorer 1 was launched by the U.S. (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). It captured the existence of radiations closely surrounding the Earth. They not only regulate the earthly solar radiations, but also inform the atmospheric electrical charges. The 1950s and 1960s also marked a period of numerous scientific explorations to other planets and the Moon by the U.S. (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008).
The launch of Sputnik 1 by the USSR led to the formation of NASA to challenge the superiority of the USSR matters science and technology. NASA assimilated the 8,000 employees of former National Advisory Committee (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). Further, NASA operated on a budget of $100 million as well as the five laboratories – three major research facilities and two smaller test facilities (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). The new agency recruited professionals from extensive fields – engineering, pilots, and the Army to assist with its operations. Consequently, space missions had been conducted by NASA within the first few months of its establishment.
Although NASA is responsible for a plethora of missions intended to foster space exploration, Apollo mission is arguably the single-most popular project by NASA. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 challenged space experts to create a space mission that would avail man to the Moon and safely bring him back (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). This was a direct move to counter the achievements of the USSR in space. The U.S. endeavored to show its dominance matters science and technology vis-a-vis the USSR.
On July 20, 1969, NASA successfully sent the first human beings to the moon and back. President Kennedy’s challenge was accomplished when NASA landed Michael Collins, Armstrong, and Aldrin on the Moon (National Research Council (U.S.), 2008). This team of explorers took soil samples, photographs and planted the American flag on the Moon before taking a trip back to Earth. This not only marked a phenomenal development in the field of astrobiology, but also it signaled that the USSR that their adversary was superior from a scientific and technological perspective. Prior to the culmination of the Cold War, the USSR as well as the U.S. carried out extensive space missions, including sending attempts to send man to Mars.
In conclusion, the Cold War played a phenomenal role towards the incidence and flourishing of astrobiology. The rivalry between the USSR and the U.S. can broadly be categorized into two – the arms race and the space race. The arms race entailed the amassing of deadly combat weapons, such as ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. In the 1970s, both countries entered into an agreement to cease from creating nuclear weapons. Consequently, the rivalry shifted from an arms race to a space race. Both countries committed vast resources to outperform each other matters science and technology. The launch of the USSR’s first orbit satellite marked the start of an extensive journey towards space exploration. In reiteration, the U.S. successful sent the first man to the Moon and back. Although the Cold War eventually ended in 1991, extensive space exploration has continued signifying a landmark development in astrobiology.

References
Dick, S. J., & Strick, J. E. (2005). The living universe: NASA and the development of
astrobiology.
Gaddis, J. L. (2005). Strategies of containment: a critical appraisal of American national
security policy during the Cold War. Oxford University Press.
National Research Council (U.S.). (2008). Assessment of the NASA Astrobiology Institute.
Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.