ABSTRACT
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet launch of Sputnik astounded and dismayed the free world. Their success demonstrated a clear superiority in rocket technology over the United States. Less than a month later, Sputnik 2 was launched and carried Laika, a live dog, into orbit—further evidence of the Soviet lead. 1 These successful launches led to the development of the “space race” between the Soviet Union and the United States, with far-reaching implications for American education, technology, and the Cold War.
