The Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union began in 1957 with the Soviet launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. This sparked fears in the US about Soviet technological and military capabilities. In response, the US established NASA in 1958 and launched projects to catch up, including putting the first American in space. The Space Race culminated in the US landing astronauts on the Moon in 1969, achieving President Kennedy's goal of reaching the Moon that decade and winning an important victory in the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union.