Sputnik 1

Historical context

On 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union launched the spherical satellite Sputnik 1, which had a diameter of 58 cm, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The rocket was a slightly modified R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile. The 83.6 kg satellite contained a thermometer and a radio transmitter that was active for 21 days and emitted a short-wave signal. The aim was to prove that it was possible to locate artificial objects in space. Sputnik initially travelled once around the Earth in its orbit in around 96 minutes. It burnt up 92 days after the launch when it re-entered the lower layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The prehistory of Sputnik and its connection to the International Geophysical Year (IGY) involved several steps in scientific co-operation. The International Geophysical Year (IGY) 1957-1958 was a joint international scientific endeavour to study the Earth and its environment. It was inspired by the success of the International Polar Years of 1882-1883 and 1932-1933. The IGY was proposed in 1950 and organised by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). The aim was to collect comprehensive data on geophysical phenomena, including the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans and magnetic fields. The IGY involved scientists from 67 countries and focussed on coordinated observations and experiments. It was intended to take advantage of technological advances and be an example of international co-operation during the Cold War.

In 1955, the US announced its intention to launch a satellite during the IGY and chose Project Vanguard for this purpose. The project was led by the Naval Research Laboratory and aimed to launch a small scientific satellite into orbit. The Soviet Union also committed to launching a satellite during the IGY. The Soviet engineers, led by Sergei Korolyov, developed the R-7 rocket, which was powerful enough to put a satellite into orbit.

The USA’s Vanguard project failed. Therefore, the successful launch of Sputnik 1 triggered the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Sputnik proved that it was possible to put objects into orbit and represented a major technological breakthrough for the USSR, while the USA appeared second best.

The Sputnik shock

Against this backdrop, the launch of Sputnik 1 triggered a mixture of fear and admiration worldwide. The reaction in the United States is known as “Sputnik shock” and the loss of prestige was extraordinary. The term shock refers to the widespread reaction and significant impact that the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957 had on the United States. This event triggered a series of political, military, scientific and educational reactions, especially in the United States. The term summarises the sense of surprise, urgency and fear that the satellite triggered. In the United States, it led to increased investment in science and technology education and the founding of NASA.

The launch of Sputnik 1 was a historic event in the history of space exploration and signalled the beginning of mankind’s journey into space. Its initially purely scientific roots in the geophysical year largely faded into the background under the conditions of the Cold War.