Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

1961. Praise, propaganda accompany first manned space flights

Like the Sputnik launch in the 1950s, the space flight of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in April 1961 inspired both wonder and consternation in The Journal's editorial pages.

"The Soviet Union has scored a historic accomplishment," the paper wrote on April 13, 1961. "By rocketing a man into orbit in outer space and bringing him back alive and well, the Russian scientists have proved that the feat could be done."

"Now the barrier has been broken. The first human explorer has succeeded in leaving the atmosphere on the first brief and tentative exploration of space. But he has opened the way for others."

The Journal praised the Soviets for expressing the "noble sentiment" that space exploration must be a peaceful pursuit.

"But the Soviet Union is not unmindful of the political consequences of its achievement. It is fully aware that the United States is far along on its own program to place men in outer space, and it is equally aware that in many minds, the conquest of outer space has come to be regarded as a race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

"So we find a large part of the official Russian statement devoted to a glorification of the Soviet system . . . They have bested the United States, just as they did with their first Sputnik, and they propose to wring all the propaganda value they can out of the success."

A month later, as America prepared for its first manned space flight, The Journal ran an editorial cartoon that pictured a character representing "U.S. Scientific Prestige" telling a Mercury astronaut: "I'm going along too."

On May 6, 1961, The Journal helped wring some propaganda from the successful flight of Alan B. Shepard, the first American in space.

"If the probe by Commander Shepard was not the first in history, it was the first open shot in history. The flight was made in full view of millions through television and film and was covered by hundreds of reporters from all over the world -- including representatives of the Soviet Russian news media.

"The free world has put its first man into space, and for that we are proud. It brought him back well and safe, and for that we are grateful . . . America has good reason to blow its horn today, and we hope the sound is loud and clear."