SOVIETS LAUNCH WORLD'S FIRST ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE
Moscow (JFK+50) On October 4, 1957. the Soviet Union launched 'Sputnik I'*, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
Sputnik, about the size of a beach ball and weighing 183.9 pounds, traveled at a speed of 18,000 mph with each orbit lasting 96.2 minutes.
Soviet news agency TASS reported...
"As a result of great intense work of scientific institutes and design bureaus, the first artificial satellite has been built."
NASA describes the event as one that changed history and marked the beginning of the space age.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was not surprised by the Soviet announcement, but he was taken aback by the reaction of shock by the citizens of his nation. Americans could not believe the Russians were so far ahead of us.
*Sputnik would go on to complete 1,440 orbits before ending its service on January 4, 1958.
JFK+50 NOTE
The United States launched its first artificial satellite, Explorer I, on January 31, 1958. The Sputnik launch, according to NASA, "led directly" to the creation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, October 1, 1958.
On November 28, 1959, Senator John F. Kennedy said..."It's not too late, these spectacular Russian gains have awakened us from our sleep. I think we can close the gaps and pull ahead."
During the 1960 presidential campaign, JFK emphasized the U.S. was behind in the space race. He said, "I believe in an America that is not first but, first if, but first PERIOD!" The rest is history!
SOURCES
"Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic Dinner, Denver, Colorado, November 28, 1959, JFK Library, www.jfklibrary.org/
"Soviets Launch First Man Made Satellite," JFK+50, October 4, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
"Sputnik and The Dawn of the Space Age," NASA, www.nasa.gov/
