This Day In 1957: Soviets Launch First Artificial Satellite Into Earth's Orbit
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik , the world's first artificial satellite , forever altering the course of history and marking the beginning of the Space Age .
The dream of space travel had been alive for decades. In 1903, Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky mathematically proved that an artificial satellite was possible, but his ideas went largely unnoticed in the US. As rocketry advanced over the years, the allure of spaceflight captivated public imagination.
In 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions launched the International Geophysical Year (IGY), an 18-month scientific extravaganza set to begin in July 1957. The goal was to conduct a series of geophysical experiments, including the launch of Earth-orbiting satellites. The US planned its own satellite, Vanguard, while the Soviets, led by the secretive Sergei Korolev, had their own ambitions.
The dream of space travel had been alive for decades. In 1903, Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky mathematically proved that an artificial satellite was possible, but his ideas went largely unnoticed in the US. As rocketry advanced over the years, the allure of spaceflight captivated public imagination.
In 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions launched the International Geophysical Year (IGY), an 18-month scientific extravaganza set to begin in July 1957. The goal was to conduct a series of geophysical experiments, including the launch of Earth-orbiting satellites. The US planned its own satellite, Vanguard, while the Soviets, led by the secretive Sergei Korolev, had their own ambitions.
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