Final answer:
The Soviet Union was the first to launch a satellite, Sputnik, into orbit in 1957, sparking the space race and fears of Soviet military capabilities. The US responded by creating NASA and succeeded in launching Explorer 1 in 1958 after earlier failures. President Eisenhower recognized the launch as setting a precedent that allowed for satellites to orbit without territorial restrictions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Soviet Union was the first nation to launch a satellite into orbit around the Earth, causing fear they could now launch nuclear missiles as well. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet's launch of Sputnik marked the beginning of the space race and demonstrated a significant technological advancement that raised concerns about their capabilities for military applications. In the wake of Sputnik's success, the United States government accelerated the development of its own space technology and established NASA in 1958 to ensure that the country did not fall behind in the space exploration and ICBM technology.
Eisenhower, the US president at the time, saw both the risks and opportunities presented by the Soviet's achievement. While the launch of Sputnik ignited fears of orbital nuclear warfare, Eisenhower also recognized that the Soviet's action had effectively set a precedent that space would not be subjected to the same territorial restrictions as Earth. As a result, the United States could also launch satellites for reconnaissance purposes without such acts being considered as aggression.
After several failed attempts, the US successfully launched its own satellite, Explorer 1, on January 31, 1958, with significant contributions from scientists like Van Allen. Although the early struggles of the Vanguard program led to criticisms, the success of Explorer 1 represented a significant milestone for the US space program.