October 4, 1957: Sputnik and the Start of the Space Race

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. It was a small metal ball with long antennas, and it sent out a steady beeping radio signal as it circled the planet.

Here at home, the news came over the radio, on the evening television news and across the front page of the newspaper. Many Americans were surprised that the Soviets had gotten there first, and the question on a lot of minds was simple: how would the United States catch up?

How America answered

• In January 1958, the United States launched its own first satellite, Explorer 1.
• Later in 1958, NASA was created to lead the country's work in space.
• That same year, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act, which put money into science, math and foreign language teaching.

For many children of the time, the change showed up in the classroom. Schools put more weight on science and math, and science fairs, model rockets and talk of becoming an engineer or an astronaut became part of growing up. The Space Race had begun, and it would lead all the way to the Moon.

Do you remember hearing about Sputnik? Did your school change after it? Tell us below.