Question

Why did the United States suffer a loss of confidence following the launch of Sputnik 1?

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. The United States assumed that they would be first into space, before the Soviets.

Explanation:

During the Cold War, there was a strong dispute between the United States and the Soviet Union to develop spatial technology and send rockets, satellites, and similar to the space. In this context, the U.S. leaders and scientists strongly believed the U.S. would be the first one into space because there had been huge advancements in this area. However, in 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, which was the first satellite in the space. Additionally, this unexpected victory of the Soviet Union caused a loss of confidence in the United States.