The Cold War EraWorks Cited Missing From the late 1940s to the mid-1980s American society saw what could arguably be called the greatest technological effect on society. This era, the Cold War, was a time when fear of attack or invasion and the need to be superior reigned in American society. It led to the development of space technology, during the space race, communications systems, and military technology in what was rightly considered the arms race. On October 4, 1957 [1] a huge change occurred regarding technology in society. On this date, the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) launched Sputnik into space. The launch of Sputnik instilled fear in American society and an urgent call to increase technological capabilities to protect the homeland from Soviet attacks and also to demonstrate US superiority. Official U.S. involvement in what has been commonly referred to as the “Space Race” began in 1958 after the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA. Once created, NASA immediately began working on the idea of ​​space flight The first high-profile program was titled Project Mercury. NASA's main goal was to find out whether humans could survive in space. 2] and, slowly, America made its way to the forefront of the space race. Preliminary sketches and drawings of Project Mercury can be seen at right. Although it was a new technological advance, the idea of ​​being able to send humans into space was a new idea that required an incredible amount of progress in technological fields not yet understood by man.... middle of paper... ...The Stand-Away Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed by the United States and the USSR l 8 December 1987 and ratified by the United States Senate on May 27, 1988. This is considered the end of the Cold War as the mass elimination of weapons developed during the era began, including the elimination of the PERSHING. The last of the PERSHING missiles was eliminated in May 1991. [8]The Cold War era was an era in which fear of technology and the imminent need for developments became the central focus of society. This era embodies the power that technology has on American society and, consequently, the world. More than twenty years have been spent developing technologies to protect the nation from another's technologies. The impact of technology during this era, although not in every home to the extent it is today, was of enormous proportions.