Sputnik:
Goals: Sputnik was the opening shot in the space race between the United States and the former Soviet Union. The basketball-sized spacecraft was the world's first artificial satellite. It orbited the Earth sending back a beeping signal for 23 days.

Accomplishments: Sputnik created shockwaves back on Earth. It was an amazing technical achievement followed only a month later by the stunning launch of Sputnik II, which carried the first living thing - Laika the dog - into space. The U.S. responded in January 1958 with the launch of Explorer 1. Another American response to Sputnik: The creation of NASA in October 1958.

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4 Oct 1957:  Launch 4 Jan 1958:  Re-entered Earth's Atmosphere Status:  Successful Show All Dates for Sputnik		4 Oct 2007:  Tones from Deep Space 3 Oct 2007:  First Contact: Sputnik 4 Oct 2004:  Sputnik Anniversary
Sputnik was about the size of a basketball. It weighed only 83 kg (183 pounds). Sputnik orbited the Earth every 98 minutes sending back a beeping signal for 23 days. Sputnik's designer, Sergei Korolev (above), went on to head Russia's Vostok, Voskhod, Zond and Kosmos programs. NASA was created as a direct result of the Sputnik surprise.		Solar System Bodies: Earth Sputnik Multimedia Gallery NSSDC Master Catalog: Sputnik 1 NASA History Office Sputnik 50th Anniversary Homepage