Clean the Communist Filth Off the Moon

Cold War Poster Series, USA NASA
circa 1960

This illustrated poster shows American astronauts ripping the Soviet Union flag and planting an American flag on the moon.1 During the Space Race in the 1960s, the United States and USSR competed to land on the moon to show their political power. This propaganda poster is a response to Sputnik 1, the USSR’s first satellite launch in 1957. After Sputnik 1, the U.S. felt more pressure to protect space from USSR. 2 The poster sends multiple messages — enlisting Americans into the U.S. Space Marines and promoting science and math education. Strong political imagery and tightly tracked type in the poster highlight an urgent emotion.

1 DeMatte, Piper. “Civic Artifact Outline.” Penn State University, https://sites.psu.edu/piperdemattercl/2018/09/13/civic-artifact-outline/.

2 Clay, Dylan. “Fear to Cooperation: A Brief History of the Space Race.” (2021).

also ref: Kiaer, Christina. “Imagine no possessions: the socialist objects of Russian constructivism.” (2005).