R7 Rocket Launches 5

Description

R7 Rocket Launches, Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; subject to licensing; Rights: a9 Bleek/zb Media. The photos show the historic launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, which heralded the beginning of the space age.

R-7 Rocket on the Launch Pad: The Soviet R-7 intercontinental missile, originally developed for military purposes, was converted into a launch vehicle for the first artificial Earth satellite.
Rocket Launch: The images capture the moment of launch an impressive sight with fire and smoke, as the R-7 lifts off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome into space.
Sputnik 1 in Space: The spherical satellite model with four long antennas orbits the Earth. Sputnik transmits radio signals that can be received worldwide.

The Sputnik launch marked the start of the space era and triggered the Sputnik Shock in the West. The USA was surprised by the technological superiority of the Soviet Union, which further fueled the space race between the superpowers.