Final answer:
The United States did not take the lead in the space race with Russia (Soviet Union) with the launch of Sputnik.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in the question is false. The United States did not take the lead in the space race with Russia (Soviet Union) with the launch of Sputnik. In fact, Sputnik was the first artificial satellite launched into space by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This event actually caused a great deal of concern and urgency in the United States, which then led to the establishment of NASA and a significant increase in space exploration efforts.
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