HAPPPY 5OTH BIRTHDAY, SPUTNIK!

Tomorrow, October 4th, is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first man-made satellite. On October 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union stunned the United States with the launch of Sputnik.

The successful launch of Sputnik sent horripilations through the American military and American political leadership. The message was clear and unmistakable. The launch vehicle for Sputnik, the Soviet R-7, was an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the Continental US.

Russia followed up with Sputnik 1 with the launch of Sputnik II on November 3rd, 1957. Sputnik I weighed 84.45 kilograms. Sputnik II came in at 508 kilograms. Sputnik II also carried a doomed dog name Laika. There was no ability to return the dog to earth.

The United States did not launch its first satellite, Vanguard I, until January 31st, 1958. It weighed only 1.4 kilograms, about the weight of a grapefruit. Vanguard I is reportedly still in orbit, while Sputnik I plunged to earth only months after its launch.

SPUTNIK STARTED THE RACE.

It is commonly stated that the Soviet Union’s early lead in outer space exploration caused President Kennedy to ramp up American space exploration. Including the pledge to put humans on the moon. This commitment was kept when American astronauts landed on the moon in July of 1969. The first moon launch is fading into history, and occurred nearly 40 years ago.

But for this moment, let us honor the Soviet Sputnik.

SCIENTIFIC STRIDES STEP ACROSS ALL BORDERS IN THE DESERT OF THE REAL!