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While the U.S.S.R. got an early lead in the space race 50 years ago today, the United States had been working on it's own satellite-launching rocket project called Vanguard.

MPR's Tom Crann talked to one of the men who worked on the Vanguard project, George Fedor. He was a designer for the Honeywell Aero Division in Minneapolis.

Minnesotan rocket designers were caught off gaurd by Sputnik. Americans thought the Vanguard project would lead the U.S. ahead of the U.S.S.R. in the space race.

George Fedor, designer for U.S. Vanguard space project 50 years ago.

Sputnik launch surprised Minnesota rocket designers 50 years ago

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