After Sputnik, nearly every American realized the USSR had long range nuclear capabilities and was ahead of the U.S. in space technology, causing widespread shock and paranoia.
"Sputnik’s launch made us realize that the Soviets were further advanced in rocket technology than we thought! ... I
was surprised that the Russians beat the US in putting a satellite in space." - Jim Lovell
"Beyond this, it was clear that the Soviets possess a competence in long-range rocketry and in auxiliary fields which is even more advanced than the competence with which we had credited them..." - from Memorandum of Conference with the President
"We didn’t really understand the devastating effects of [a nuclear] attack, but were still very worried... people that I knew started talking about building bomb shelters and/or stocking their existing storm cellars with supplies."
- Jerry Bostick
"Unless this is done now, the federation warned, the development and production of rockets and space weapons may make all efforts at control impossible. The first earth satellite, now in orbit, is 'a sharp reminder that our technology is again threatening to outstrip our capacity to control it,' the group stressed. ... 'In the predictable future, the technological problems will be solved and stockpiling of intercontinental missiles armed with H-bomb warheads will begin,' the statement said. 'Concealment will then be relatively easy and defense, except by retaliation, will probably be partial at best. The era of push-button mass destruction will be upon us.'" - New York Times on October 10, 1957
"Satellite Flashes Past D.C. 6 Times; Observers Get 'Fix' on Moon Track; Russians May Have 'Ultimate Weapon'"
- Headline of Washington Post on Oct. 6, 1957