53 years ago today an artificial satellite was launched into orbit. It shook the world. And it started the Space Race. The name was Sputnik.Sputnik was a satellite sent up by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. As I said in my introduction, it shook the world. Nobody else had done this feat before, and the Americans were wondering why we hadn't done it first. (In fact we actually could have, as German rocket maker Wernher Von Braun had the
resources and know-how. Washington just limited what Von Braun could do.) Of course the Russians used Sputnik to their advantage, and the propaganda was crazy. A few months later in response to Sputnik the U.S. sent up our first satellite, Explorer 1. Sadly, the rocket failed and for the time there was a lot of laughing. One reporter titled used the word "Flopnik" to describe Explorer 1's un-flight.
Unfortunately for America Sputnik was just the first of severe blows from Russia, and not till over 11 years later did Russia take a back-seat to America in "firsts" in space. (Which happened to be on Apollo 8.)
While I have read some about Sputnik before, I do not know much. (yet!) There is a book at our library on Sputnik, and I am going to read it ASAP! Then I can post a more informed article. :) Anyway, if you would like to learn more about Sputnik or Explorer, the below Wikipedia links is a great spot to start! :D
~Photobug
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