Teaching Chemistry Using October Sky

摘要

Just ovei fifty years ago, on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, which marked the beginning of the space race. In response, the United States created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and approved major increases in government funding for science and mathematics programs nationwide. Sputnik also inspired six coal miners' sons in Coalwood, West Virginia, to form a rocket research program. The story of these coal miners' sons was told by Homer Hickam, Jr., in the book Rocket Boys: A Memoir (1), The book was later adapted into the movie October Sky (2).