Question

How did the launch of Sputnik affect the American public? It prompted Congress to investigate communist infiltration in the federal government. It made many Americans realize that communism was not an inferior economic system. It raised fears that the Soviet Union could drop a nuclear bomb directly on the United States. It showed that the U.S.S.R was more interested in scientific development than in an arms race

Answer 1

Answer:   It raised fears that the Soviet Union could drop a nuclear bomb directly on the United States.

Context:   The Sputnik satellite was sent into orbit by the USSR on October 4, 1957.  The Soviets announced its mission as a scientific one, to study the solar system.  In the Cold War atmosphere, of course, Americans were wary of what other motives the USSR might have had.  The Soviets launched Sputnik 2 in November, 1957, with a dog on board.  The USA scrambled to get its own satellite program operational, launching the first US satellite, Explorer, on January 1, 1958.

Answer 2

The launching of the Russian satellite "Sputkik" was a major even in the Cold War and sparked the "space race". "It raised fears that the Soviet Union could drop a nuclear bomb directly on the United States" would be the best answer.