How does the launching of the Sputnik connect to the Cold War?

The launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 is
connected to the Cold War because it was an example of the competition between the US
and the USSR during the Cold War.

During the Cold War, the
US and the USSR competed in a variety of ways.  They competed militarily, for example,
and for prestige in the eyes of other countries.  The launching of Sputnik was a win for
the Soviet Union.  The Soviets managed to be first to launch a satellite into space,
which was seen as a triumph for Soviet society and technology.  After the launch, the US
tried hard to catch up to and pass the Soviet Union in terms of space
technology.

The launch of Sputnik and the reaction that it
caused are very typical of the Cold War competition between the US and the
USSR.