When the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a manmade satellite into orbit in 1957, the initial response from the United States government was tepid at best. But the general public had a different reaction—one of fear, shock and urgency that our primary geopolitical rival could be technologically so far ahead of us. This led to more funding for what we'd now call STEM education, more R&D for aerospace tech and more public policies meant to drive innovation. It also gave us the term "Sputnik Moment," for when a country has to be jolted into action to catch up with an adversary with such a huge lead.
