How did the launch of sputnik 1 affect american perceptions of the soviet union? a. it suggested that the soviet union might have the capability to launch missiles at american cities. b. it suggested that a direct military conflict between the soviet union and the united states was inevitable. c. it suggested that the soviet union was far behind the united states in the development of space technology. d. it suggested that the soviet union was more interested in space travel than in warfare with the united states?

 a. it suggested that the soviet union might have the capability to launch missiles at American cities.

Context: The Sputnik satellite was sent into orbit by the USSR on October 4, 1957.  The Soviets announced its mission as a scientific one, to study the solar system.  In the Cold War atmosphere, of course, Americans were wary of what other motives the USSR might have had.  The Soviets launched Sputnik 2 in November, 1957, with a dog on board.  The USA scrambled to get its own satellite program operational, launching the first US satellite, Explorer, on January 1, 1958.