Sputnik Mania 2008

Historians say that there have been three great shocks that brought America to its knees: The events of Pearl Harbor, 9/11 and the launch of Sputnik. Narrated by actor Liev Schreiber, "Sputnik Mania" reveals the dramatic and fast-moving story of what happened to America after the Soviet Union's launch of the world's first artificial satellite. Sputnik placed the U.S. and the USSR on a collision-course missile and space race. "Sputnik Mania" is a journey that chronicles how quickly the swing from Americans' initial thrill and awe turned to panic, fear and anxiety as leading politicians and the media whipped the public into an escalating mass frenzy. Perceived as evidence of an imminent attack by the Soviet Union, Sputnik not only created a deep fear among the American public, but also ushered in an era of remarkable educational, social and scientific developments with profound political and national-security implications for the United States and fascinating parallels to the present.