The space race of the late 1950's started not with a "bang", but with the steady "beep beep" of Sputnik, as it spun overhead. At this time, the American public was only just realizing how space travel was not only plausible, but probable, and they weren't really ready to see Russia dominating the world with technology in this manner. So how DID we get so interested in space travel in the first place? And how did that interest spread to the highest levels of the US government? Two words: Ward Kimball. Ward and Walt spoon-fed the public a fantastic primer on space travel, greasing the wheels for the Space Race. We talk about this evolution and more on today's show!
