Final answer:
The supporting text's purpose is to explain the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, especially in the context of the space race, where both superpowers aimed to show technological and ideological dominance. The correct answer is option c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the supporting text mentioning Sputnik 1957 and a quote by John Glenn is to explain the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era, specifically in regard to the space race. This competition was not merely about achieving technological milestones in space exploration but was deeply rooted in the ideological battle between democracy and communism. The victor in the space race would demonstrate technological superiority and gain an upper hand in global influence.
The launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 marked a significant event since it was the world's first human-made satellite to orbit the Earth, establishing the Soviet Union's early lead in the space race.
This spurred the United States to create NASA and intensify its efforts to launch satellites and astronauts into space. The underlying fear was that Soviet advancements in missile technology, evidenced by the Sputnik launch, could potentially enable them to launch nuclear weapons against the United States, thereby escalating the arms race.
The space race was a reflection of the larger Cold War context, where both superpowers were desperate to showcase their supremacy, not just in space, but in all aspects of military, scientific, and cultural might. John Glenn's quote epitomizes the mood of the time where every achievement in space was viewed through the lens of the ongoing struggle between two competing political ideologies.