“The launch of Sputnik 1 had a "Pearl Harbor" effect on American public opinion. It was a shock, introducing the average citizen to the space age in a crisis setting” (Launius).
Dominance Threatened"When the Soviet Union orbited Sputnik I, the world's first man-made satellite, on October 4, 1957, shock waves from the event were felt throughout the United States. The reactions ranged from mindless, uninformed panic to deeply thoughtful questionings of the structure of American science, technology, and national security and the goals and values of American education" (Killian). The Sputnik launch was not surprising to the scientific community, but it was a shock to the general American public. The United States were used to being the best country in the world and felt cheated out of not being the first nation to launch a satellite into space. “The Soviet success with Sputnik 1 raised in a very fundamental way the question of American technological virtuosity, and questioned American capability in so many other areas already underway that setbacks in this one was all the more damaging to the American persona” (Launius). Soviet Russia's impressive achievement was a wake-up call to Americans to not be complacent. The Sputnik 1 launch encouraged Americans to support the government in their space efforts and opened the doors for advancements in many fields.
|
Criticism
President Eisenhower remained unalarmed by Sputnik. He assured the Americans that the United States would launch a better satellite soon. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson mocked Eisenhower, "The Roman empire controlled the world because it could build roads. Later, when men moved to sea, the British Empire was dominant because it had ships. Now the communists have established a foothold in outer space. It is not very reassuring to be told that next year we will put a 'better' satellite into the air. Perhaps it will even have chrome trim and automatic windshield wipers." Most Americans criticized Eisenhower for letting America fall behind the Soviets.
“During the furor that followed Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2, many people accused the Eisenhower administration of letting the Soviet Union best the United States. The Sputnik crisis reinforced for many people the popular conception that Eisenhower was a smiling incompetent; it was another instance of a "do-nothing," golf-playing president mismanaging events" (Launius).
“During the furor that followed Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2, many people accused the Eisenhower administration of letting the Soviet Union best the United States. The Sputnik crisis reinforced for many people the popular conception that Eisenhower was a smiling incompetent; it was another instance of a "do-nothing," golf-playing president mismanaging events" (Launius).
"Oh little Sputnik, flying high
with made-in-Moscow beep,
You tell the world it's a Commie sky
and Uncle Sam's asleep." -G. Mennen Williams
Soviets celebrate
The Soviets were very proud of their achievement. The launch of Sputnik 1 symbolized success for communism.
Semyon Reznik, a Soviet college student said, "The day our satellite Sputnik was launched, a special voice came over the radio to announce it to us. Traditionally, in the Soviet Union a few of the radio announcers were hired to read only the most urgent news on the radio. We always knew when something extra special was coming over the airwaves, as we would hear a special signal, 'ta ta toe, ta toe, ta toe' and then one of these readers with a deep voice would begin speaking. And if your radio wasn't on at home, a neighbor would let you know immediately. It was pure genius on the part of Soviet leaders to create this kind of show. You'd forget about everything at this moment - about your problems, about your spouse and your family. This was like a kind of religious performance. 'Attention. All radio stations of the Soviet Union are broadcasting…Our satellite Sputnik is in space.' Everyone felt so proud and wondered who did it? No names were named for years."
Semyon Reznik, a Soviet college student said, "The day our satellite Sputnik was launched, a special voice came over the radio to announce it to us. Traditionally, in the Soviet Union a few of the radio announcers were hired to read only the most urgent news on the radio. We always knew when something extra special was coming over the airwaves, as we would hear a special signal, 'ta ta toe, ta toe, ta toe' and then one of these readers with a deep voice would begin speaking. And if your radio wasn't on at home, a neighbor would let you know immediately. It was pure genius on the part of Soviet leaders to create this kind of show. You'd forget about everything at this moment - about your problems, about your spouse and your family. This was like a kind of religious performance. 'Attention. All radio stations of the Soviet Union are broadcasting…Our satellite Sputnik is in space.' Everyone felt so proud and wondered who did it? No names were named for years."
Excitement
There were mixed feelings about the Sputnik launch in the United States. Along with the panic Americans experienced, there was also excitement for the discovery of the new frontier. American culture was intrigued by Sputnik I, mainly because there is so much mystery associated with outer space. When the news of Sputnik first spread, millions scanned the skies for a brief glimpse of Sputnik. This event was called the "Sputnik night."
Homer H. Hickam, Jr., a retired NASA engineer, described the night he first observed Sputnik as a 14-year-old. “I saw the bright little ball, moving majestically across the narrow star field between the ridgelines. I stared at it with no less rapt attention than if it had been God Himself in a golden chariot riding overhead. It soared with what seemed to me inexorable and dangerous purpose, as if there were no power in the universe that could stop it. All my life, everything important that had ever happened had always happened somewhere else. But Sputnik was right there in front of my eyes in my backyard in Coalwood, McDowell County, West Virginia, U.S.A. I couldn't believe it,” Hickam recollected. "Although many were concerned with the ramifications of Sputnik's launch, others took the news with a lighter approach. Bartenders invented the Sputnik cocktail, and children bought Sputnik toys. Space fashions also came into style, depicting satellites on everything from skirts to balloons. Searching for Sputnik became a national pasttime. The U.S. proved it could see the lighter side to Sputnik, as well as the somber one" (The Launch of the Sputnik). |