Sputnik

The Sputnik program was a series of unmanned space missions launched by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s to demonstrate the viability of artificial satellites. SPUTNIK

The Russian name "Спутник" means literally "traveling companion" or "satellite".

The Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I on October 4, 1957.

The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path.

An internal view of Sputnik I.

This metal arming key is the last remaining piece of Sputnik I. It prevented contact between the batteries and the transmitter prior to launch. Currently it’s on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

Only a month after its "October surprise," the Soviet Union launched another satellite, Sputnik 2, which was larger and carried a dog.

All Sputniks were carried to orbit by the R-7 launch vehicle which was believed to have been originally designed to carry nuclear warheads.

Vanguard TV3 was the first U.S. attempt to launch a satellite into orbit around the Earth. The spectacular televised failure of Vanguard TV3 on December 6, 1957 deepened American dismay over the country's position in the Space Race.

In response to the launch of Sputnik, the United States began their own space program. The first successful launch by the United States was Explorer I on Jan. 31, 1958.

The Sputnik launch also led directly to the creation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958.

While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.- U.S.S.R space race. To the left is Apollo 11 lifting off for the moon.

The Vergeltungswaffe 2 (V-2), was the first ballistic missile. The V-2 was the first man-made object launched into space (by the Germans), during test flights that reached an altitude of 189 km (117 miles) in It was the progenitor of the space race. -Peenemünde Museum replica of the first successful V-2 rocket.

At the end of the war, a race between the United States and the USSR to retrieve as many V-2 rockets and staff as possible began. Three hundred trainloads of V-2s and parts were captured and shipped to the United States, and 126 of the principal designers were in American hands.

Only two Bumper V-2's were ever launched from what is referred to today as Cape Canaveral. B-8 (left) was successfully fired on July 24, 1950 and B-7 was successfully fired on July 29, 1950.