The space race was when the United States and Russia where competing to see who could put a satellite into orbit first. On October 4, 1957 Russia had successfully launched Sputnik into orbit. The news of Sputnik had reached all around the world. American feared that if Russia put a satellite into outer space than they could launch a missile from space and hit us. We felt vulnerable and safe so during school students would have drills in case a missile hit. Less than a year later America had successful launched satellite in January of 1958.