Yet when the U.S.S.R. orbited Sputnik, the whole world, especially the
U.S., appeared to be "shocked" by it. BRBR

There were a number of reasons. The CIA knew the Soviets were working on an
ICBM, but many analysts in the West doubted a Soviet claim that such a rocket
had flown successfully in August 1957. There was also a general feeling that
the Soviets were technically backward types who were still dependent on largely
unimproved German technology and were unlikely to achieve any major technology
firsts, in rocketry or anything else. (This was unjustified, as the Soviets
produced some superb tanks and airplanes in WWII, but it still existed.)
Delays in the US Vanguard program were not viewed with concern because of the
common belief within the US government that Vanguard would be the world's
first satellite regardless of when it launched.
Matt Bille
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OPINIONS IN ALL POSTS ARE SOLELY THOSE OF THE AUTHOR