Because they wanted to have the first artificial satelite (Explorer).
Sputnik came as a surprise, the US did not know about it in advance.
Sputnik didn't humiliate the US; it triggered the space race and heightened Cold War tensions.
Nyet.
The launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 was significant because it was the first artificial satellite to be successfully launched into space, marking the beginning of the space age. It also fueled the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to advancements in technology and space exploration.
If they can put a satellite in orbit they can launch a H-bomb at us too. It wasn't quite true with Sputnik 1, but it was with Sputnik 2.
The US got jealous
The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) -- Russia launched Sputnik
Dwight Eisenhower was the US President.
we didn't the USSR did
We cried.
Sputnik 2.
NASA