h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was eight years old when the Russians launched Sputnik. Its hard now to realize how impressive that was, especially for people who were not alive then. I could stand out in the yard at night and SEE it go over (at least my parents said that was it - or maybe that was a later one?), and even hear it beeping on the radio. I built a plastic model of it that somebody said was close to life size.

Yes, there was a mutual distrust between Americans and Russians, but there was also an undeniable admiration of Sputnik. Americans are impressed by things that WORK. The family in the next house was very patriotic, and probably anti-Russian, but even they named their new little puppy "Niki" after the satellite. Where credit is due ...