50 years from first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1 (04 Oct 1957)

Sputnik 1 - Sputnik 1 (Russian: "???????-1", "Satellite-1", or literally "Co-traveler-1" byname ??-1 (PS-1, i.e. "?????????? ???????-1", or Elementary Satellite-1)) was the first artificial satellite to be put into geocentric orbit. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, it was the first satellite of the Sputnik program. The satellite helped to identify the density of high atmospheric layers by its orbit change and provided data on radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere. Because the satellite's body was filled with pressurized nitrogen, Sputnik 1 also provided the first opportunity for meteorite detection, as losses in internal pressure due to meteoroid penetration of the outer surface would have been evident in the temperature data. The unanticipated announcement of Sputnik 1's success precipitated the Sputnik crisis in the United States and ignited the so-called Space Race within the Cold War.
@stvasile (7306)
Romania
October 4, 2007 8:20am CST
Russia launched its appropriately-named Sputnik — meaning "fellow traveler" — fifty years ago today. The world's first artificial satellite was unmanned, weighed 183 lbs. (83 kg.) and circled the globe every 96 minutes. Sputnik only reentered the earth's atmosphere in early 1958, burning up on the descent. Just think how much satellites have evolved in 50 years. Nowadays, you can spot your house on Google Earth, if you live in a big city...
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deebomb
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
4 Oct 07
explorer I - Start of space exploration by the U.S.
I well remember well the launching of Sputnik 1. We here in the US were afraid that the Soviet Union was going to be able to take over the world if we didn’t catch up and pass them. We launched Explorer I January 31 in 1958. A lot of people had bomb shelters at that time. They really spurred our space program. I don't think the public even knew that the Soviet Union hada sapce program.
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gradyslady
@gradyslady (4054)
• United States
4 Oct 07
Do you mean at that time you don't think they knew the Soviet Union had one? I thought we always knew that's why we were always competing with them.
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deebomb
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
4 Oct 07
Well I don't rmember hearing about their space program until they launche Sputnik. On the news at the time it seemed to be a surprize. Remember there was the iron curtain and they were very secretive about so much.
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theprogamer
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Grady, Sputnik did cause a US panic and started the infamous space race during the Cold War. The initial response of Sputnik by the US populous was indeed fear that the Soviets would be in space; that they had the better missiles/launching technology; and in due time they would take the US over. The response of the US government was Project Vanguard (Explorer I, and the Vanguard lines were created under this) after Sputnik. Vanguard TV3 resulted in failure and the US government seriously augmented efforts in space exploration (NASA) and science education (plus general education curriculum improvement). These efforts remained until the moon landing thus ending the space race in 69.
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