R7 Rocket on Launch Pad 1

Description

R7 Rocket on Launch Pad, Photo; Licensed item; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; licensing required; Rights: a9 Bleek/zb Media. The photos show the historic launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, which marked the beginning of the space age.

R-7 Rocket on the Launch Pad: The Soviet R-7 intercontinental rocket, originally developed for military purposes, was converted into a carrier rocket for the first artificial Earth satellite.
Rocket Launch: The images depict 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, further fueling the space race between the superpowers.