APUSH+Sputnik

Sputnik 1. October 4th, 1957

Sputnik 1. Russian for "fellow traveler of earth," thats the name. A 22-inch, 184-pound, man-made satellite, which the Soviet Union launched into space. It was the first satellite to ever be put into earths orbit. This event happened during the Cold War and the reason of why this is so important is because it ignited the Space Race with the United States and Soviet Russia. We were already having a bad rapport with the Soviet Union and then BOOM they were showing us up in technology and power since we had no idea the military implications this launch could have wrought we already had fear of "The Bomb" we don't want another threat of technology. The United states would not stand for this and had to do better. This was a really frightening time and Ironically what the adults were frightened of actually inspired the kids. Kids all around america were thinking of space and launching rockets. Althought the Space race was a scary time it was very beneficial and got us on the path to many discoveries and information in space. The Moon Landing and the Hubble telescope, and the international space station are just some examples of this. .