Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union from the Baikonur site in Kazakhstan on an R-7 rocket designed by Sergei Korolev. It was a polished metal sphere about the size of a beach ball, with four antennas, which transmitted radio beeps that amateur radio operators around the world could pick up. It stayed in orbit for about three months. The launch shocked the United States, which feared that the Soviets had gained a technological and military lead, and led to the creation of NASA in 1958 and to heavy investment in science education. It opened the Space Age.
Before and after
- 14 August 1957Birth of Dani Rodrik
- 21 September 1957Birth of Kevin Rudd
- 24 September 1957Construction of Camp Nou
- from 4 October 1957 to 1 July 1975Space race
- 4 October 1957Launch of Sputnik 1
- 23 October 1957Birth of Paul Kagame
- from 23 October 1957 to 30 June 1958Ifni War
- 3 November 1957Launch of Sputnik 2
- 4 November 1957Birth of Tony Abbott
More in Universe & space
- 1 May 1949Discovery of Nereid
- 20 August 1977Launch of Voyager 2
- 5 March 1979Discovery of Thebe
- 16 June 1989Discovery of Proteus
- 23 July 1995Discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp
- 15 May 2005Discovery of Nix
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.