In 1957, the Soviet Union launched a satellite called Sputnik which was a communication satellite. However many people, and the United States government believed that this was a
secret spy satellite that Russia was going to use to spy
on the U.S.

This mistrust of the Russians quickly led the United States
to begin work on our own Space program.

At this time however, the United States and Russia are
working hand in hand in our Space efforts.