R7 Rocket before Launch 2

Description

R7 Rocket before Launch, Photo; Licensed Article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; subject to licensing; Rights: a9 Bleek/zb Media. The photos show the historical 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, initially 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 – a breathtaking sight of fire and smoke as the R-7 lifts off into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
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 age 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.