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Sputnik moment meaning

What does the saying 'Sputnik moment' mean?

Idiom: Sputnik moment

Meaning:

A Sputnik moment is a point where people realise that they are threatened of challenged and have to redouble their efforts to catch up. It comes from the time when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, the Sputnik 1, and beat the USA into space.
Country: International English | Subject Area: Technology & science | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
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