What was the major impact of the launch of Sputnik I on the United States?

Sputnik I, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, showed that the Soviets had made an early advance in space technology. The United States responded by increasing its efforts in science, technology, and space exploration to catch up and eventually surpass the Soviets. Therefore, the correct choice is “The US took steps to catch up and surpass the Soviets in the space race.”

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.