Space Race

On October 4th, 1957 the Soviet Union launched SPUTNIK, an artificial satellite, into orbit. This event marked the start of the US. vs. Soviet Union space race. This event was one of the most important of the 20th century. Man finally was getting to space, the final frontier. The space race changed lives and inspired many new dreams. The event also influenced the culture of the time by increasing tensions between the soviet union and the U.S. The launching of SPUTNIK was revolutionary for its time. It was the first artificial satellite to ever orbit the earth. If one thinks about how often people rely on satellites now it is astonishing to think that it all started on October 4th 1957.