Sputnik moment

短语

发音

UK /ˈspʊtnɪk ˈməʊmənt/
AU
UK /ˈspʌtnɪk ˈməʊmənt/
US /ˈspʊtnɪk ˈmoʊmənt/
US /ˈspʌtnɪk ˈmoʊmənt/

词形变化

Sputnik moments 复数 Sputnik moments

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    The moment when a country or a society realizes that it needs to catch up with apparent technological and scientific developments made by some other country or countries by increasing its investment into education, innovative research and development, etc.

词源

A reference to the Soviet Union's launch of the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite Sputnik 1 in 1957 which caught the US unprepared. The event ignited the Space Race during the Cold War, and led to the US successfully launching Explorer 1 into space in 1958.

来源：wiktionary