oct 4, 1957 - Sputnik - Finn Foster

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On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched a series of 3 artificial satellites into space known as "Sputnik." These were the first satellites launched into space, ahead of time within the space age. The Soviets were the first ones to send satellites into space. The first satellite launched was a 83.6-kg (184 pound) capsule. It achieved an earth orbit with an apogee (farthest point from earth) of 950 km (584 miles) and a perigee (nearest point) of 230 km (143 miles), being able to circle earth every 96 minutes and remaining in orbit till January 4, 1958, when it fell back and burned Earth's atmosphere. This shocked Americans as they thought they were ahead of time with the space age against all other countries. This was a threat to America and caused drama within the technology society. This then led to the "space race" between the Soviet Union and America, leading to a conflict between the two countries. The Soviets officially called only three satellites Sputnik. In the West, however, Sputnik was used as a generic name for Soviet satellites. These “Sputniks” included the first probes to Venus (Venera 1) and Mars (Mars 1).


Works cited:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Cold War | Sputnik, Satellites Launched by Soviet Union.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Jan. 2024, www.britannica.com/event/Cold-War.

Greene, Nick. “Sputnik 1: Earth’s First Artificial Satellite.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 5 Sept. 2003, www.thoughtco.com/sputnik-1-first-artificial-satellite-3071226.

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