While satellites are a key technology in space exploration, they didn't play a direct role in the beginning of the space race. The space race, broadly speaking, began with the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union in 1957.

Sputnik 1 was actually a satellite, which means it was the first object launched into Earth orbit. This event sparked the space race because it demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological prowess and surprised the United States.

Therefore, satellites were the catalyst that started the space race, but they weren't the primary focus in the beginning. The initial focus was on achieving the technological feat of launching an object into orbit, which satellites enabled.

Later, satellites became crucial tools for both the US and USSR, allowing for:

* Scientific research: Studying Earth's atmosphere, weather patterns, and other space phenomena.

* Military intelligence: Monitoring enemy activity and developing communication systems.

* Technological advancement: Testing and developing new technologies in space.

However, it's essential to remember that the space race began with the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, making satellites the initiator of this iconic period in space exploration.