R7 Rocket on Launch Pad 2

Description

R7 Rocket on Launch Pad, Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; subject to license; 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 era.

R-7 Rocket on the Launch Pad: The Soviet R-7 intercontinental rocket, 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 the launch an impressive sight with fire and smoke as the R-7 lifts off into space from the 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 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, which further fueled the space race between the superpowers.