Recalling the startof the space race

I WAS sitting in the living room eating, as best I recall, a grilled cheese sandwich, and watching a space adventure on ‘the set’ when my mother came into the room.

She had a shocked expression and was a little pale. I asked what was wrong. “The Russians have just put a Sputnik into outer space,” she announced.

I responded, “So what?” and then catalogued the vast array of non-Russians out there, including Buck Rogers and a whole cast of space characters, friend and foe.