Sputnik refers to the first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. It marked the beginning of the Space Age and triggered the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Related terms
Space Race: A competition between the United States and Soviet Union to achieve space exploration milestones.
Cold War: The political tension and rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union after World War II.
NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, an American agency responsible for space research and exploration.