R7 Rocket Before Launch 1

Description

R7 Rocket Before Launch, Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; subject to licensing; Rights: 9 Bleek/zb Media. The photos show the historic launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, which ushered in the era of space exploration.

R-7 Rocket on the Launch Pad: The Soviet R-7 intercontinental rocket, originally developed for military purposes, was repurposed as a carrier rocket 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 launch of Sputnik marked the beginning of the space age and triggered the Sputnik shock in the West. The USA was surprised by the technological superiority of the Soviet Union, fueling the space race between the superpowers.