Rocket Launch R7 with Sputnik 4

Description

Rocket launch R7, Photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; License required; Rights: a9 Bleek/zb Media. The photos show the historic launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, marking the dawn of the space era.

R-7 rocket on the launch pad: The Soviet R-7 intercontinental missile, originally developed for military purposes, was converted into 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 takes off into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Sputnik 1 in space: The spherical satellite model with four long antennas orbits the Earth. Sputnik sends out 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.