How did the US respond to Sputnik 1?

Answer 1

America was worried that Russia could start bombing them if they wanted. The fear of Russia being the first ones in space was amplified by the Cold War, and many Americans thought that by dominating space, the Russians would be able to launch any kind of attack they felt like at any time on the U.S. from space without any opposition, because the U.S. had no satellites in space. It started the space race, which was a period of time during which the United States rushed to get satellites up into space as well, to close the rift that had emerged between Russian and American space technology.

Answer 2

They felt left behind in the arms race, and were anxious to catch up with Soviet technology. Although Sputnik wasn't a weapon, the ability to launch it showed great advances in rocket science - and rockets are a major part of the arms industry.

Answer 3

The US launched its first satellite, the Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958. The US satellite program was delayed by technical difficulties and launch failures, including the Vanguard TV3in December of 1957. Public and political reactions to the space-race with the Soviet Union were typically chagrin at being in "second place". This was exacerbated by Soviet successes in manned flights, which were nonetheless only a few months ahead of their US counterparts. It was not until the manned lunar missions of Apollo (1968-1972) that the American space program assumed undisputed predominance.

Answer 4

The US finally managed to launch a satellite of their own, Explorer I, the following year, and began to devote considerably more resources to the Space Race. The military uses of space were not yet restricted by treaty, and Earth orbit represented the ultimate access to an enemy's homeland. This might have included reconnaisance (as now still occurs), or something as threatening as an orbital bombing platform for nuclear weapons.
go up into space
US was extremely worried and anxious because they thought that the Soviet Union could drop an atomic bomb on the US.
spent more on science, math

Answer 5

It reacted by giving the president papers on how it may be able to attack the US with nuclear weapons.

Answer 6

They had many attempts at satellites and eventually made NASA.

Answer 7

The US began to try and get a man to the moon to beat the Russians in the Space Race.

Answer 8

It started the space race.