Sputnik 1 launch

Sputnik 1 launch. Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, being launched by an R-7 Semyorka rocket from Tyuratam military range (now Baikonur Cosmodrome), Kazakhstan, on 4 October 1957. The satellite consisted of an aluminium ball, with a diameter of 58 centimetres, carrying four whip-like antennas. It weighed 83.5 kilograms. It orbited the Earth at a height of 250 kilometres for 21 days, gathering information about the electron density of the ionosphere. The launch of Sputnik 1 prompted the US to enter the Space Race with the launch of the Explorer-1 satellite four months later.

You may also be interested in these collections
> Similar Colours

Keywords: 1900, 20th century, 4 october 1957, 4/10/1957, artificial satellite, baikonur cosmodrome, black-and-white, blast, blast-off, blasting off, blasting-off, ci, cold war, equipment, first, historical, history, kazakhstan, launch, launch pad, launching, monochrome, r-7 rocket, r-7 semyorka, rocket, russia, russian, satellite, soviet, space race, spaceflight, sputnik 1, support, technological, technology, tyuratam military range, ussr