TED-Ed

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-was-the-point-of-the-space-race-jeff-steers On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the satellite Sputnik and, with it, an international space race. The United States and the Soviet Union rushed to declare dominance of space for 18 years, until the two countries agreed to a more collaborative model. The real winner? Science. Jeff Steers describes the history -- and the benefits -- of the space race. Lesson by Jeff Steers, animation by The Moving Company Animation Studio.