Final answer:
The launching of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957 triggered the space race, leading to the United States' creation of NASA in 1958.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that triggered the space race was the launching of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This significant event was the first time a man-made object was successfully launched into space and it orbited the Earth. The space race was essentially a scientific competition for supremacy in space exploration between the United States and the Soviet Union. In response to Sputnik's launch, the United States accelerated its own space program efforts. Consequently, in 1958, a year after Sputnik shocked the world, President Eisenhower announced the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to compete with the Soviet space program.