Difference between revisions of "Sputnik (satellite)"

Revision as of 11:54, March 14, 2009

Sputnik was launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union as the first spacecraft to carry a living being, a dog, into outer space.

Sputnik I, launched October 4, 1957, carried an artificial satellite into orbit. It caused some concern in the USA, that the Soviet Union were the first to launch a satellite into orbit. Sputnik I was about the size of a beach ball (58cm or 22.8inches in diameter),^[1] had antennas sticking out of it, contained a beeping radio transmitter^[2], and weighed only 183 pounds.^[3] This success started the Space Race between the USSR and the USA.

Sputnik II carried a dog named Laika (Russian: Лайка) into space on November 3, 1957. Laika was originally a stray, and she died a while after the launch.

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 '''Sputnik''' was launched in 1957 by the [[Soviet Union]] as the first spacecraft to carry a living being, a dog, into outer space.
-*''Sputnik I'', launched [[October]] 4, 1957, carried an artificial satellite into orbit. It caused some concern in the [[USA]], that the Soviet Union were the first to launch a satellite into orbit. ''Sputnik I'' was about the size of a basketball, had antennas sticking out of it, contained a beeping radio transmitter<ref>CNN: Cold War Vol. 3 - Documentary</ref>, and weighed only 183 pounds.<ref>http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/</ref> This success started the [[Space Race]] between the USSR and the USA.
+*''Sputnik I'', launched [[October]] 4, 1957, carried an artificial satellite into orbit. It caused some concern in the [[USA]], that the Soviet Union were the first to launch a satellite into orbit. ''Sputnik I'' was about the size of a beach ball (58cm or 22.8inches in diameter),<ref>[http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/ NASA's files on Sputnik]</ref> had antennas sticking out of it, contained a beeping radio transmitter<ref>CNN: Cold War Vol. 3 - Documentary</ref>, and weighed only 183 pounds.<ref>http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/</ref> This success started the [[Space Race]] between the USSR and the USA.
 *''Sputnik II'' carried a dog named Laika ([[Russian]]:  Лайка) into space on November 3, 1957.  Laika was originally a stray, and she died a while after the launch.