The United States and the Soviet Union waged the Cold War for nearly 50 years after the end of World War II. No large-scale war erupted during this period, but the two countries were locked in a state of political and military tension that resulted in things such as the space race.

Newspaper clip for Yuri Gagarin

The United States and the Soviet Union waged the Cold War for nearly 50 years after the end of World War II. No large-scale war erupted during this period, but the two countries were locked in a state of political and military tension that resulted in things such as the space race.

Newspaper clip for Yuri Gagarin

Stories

Coming in Hot The Red Stuff
The Cuban Missile Crisis Rescue Mission Museum of Dreams

Exhibitions

Learn more Modern Military Aviation National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Cold War Aviation Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Learning Resources

The SR–71: The Fastest Jet Aircraft in the World How the Lockheed SR–71 Blackbird’s design helped pilots go higher and further than ever before. https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/the-fastest-jet-aircraft-in-the-world/RAIyfPwMMyO-IQ Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grades 17-20, Grade 3 Cold War, Aircraft, Military aviation, Technology and Engineering

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What’s New in Aerospace: The SR–71 Blackbird with Walter Watson Learn about the SR–71 Blackbird from Walter Watson, the only African American to fly in the SR–71 Blackbird program https://youtu.be/K0MQj2P1Mik Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grades 17-20 Aviation, Cold War, Military aviation, African American or Black people

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STEM in 30: The SR–71 Blackbird In this episode of STEM in 30 we feature the SR–71 Blackbird on display at the Steven F. Udvar–Hazy Center and explore why it was so important for reconnaissance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFj5a8G_iGk&t=1s Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8 Reconnaissance, Aircraft, Cold War

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Publications

Learn more Milestones of Flight: The Epic of Aviation with the National Air and Space Museum Learn more Science, Cold War and the American State: Lloyd V. Berkner and the Balance of Professional Ideals