Part 3/9:
The Catalyst: Space as Propaganda
Khrushchev’s era from the mid-1950s to the mid-60s marked a pivot in the Soviet agenda, as he grasped the immense propaganda potential of space technology. While America struggled to develop equivalent rocket capabilities, Khrushchev ordered his team, led by engineer Sergey Korolev, to launch a satellite into orbit to proclaim Soviet prowess.