Simviation Forums

Posted: **Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:55 pm**

50 years ago today, on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the worlds first satelite Sputnik 1 on an R-7 rocket. This event started the space race.

Sputnik orbited Earth for 3 months reentering on January 4, 1958.

Posted: **Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:00 am**

Amusing trivia:

The Sputnik 1 rocket booster also reached Earth orbit and was visible from the ground at night as a first magnitude object, while the small but highly polished sphere, barely visible at sixth magnitude, was more difficult to follow optically.

People who thought they were looking at the basketball were actually looking at the booster, the world's second artificial satellite.

Link to quote.

Posted: **Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:56 pm**

I read that the other day too, I had never known that before. I had never given it any thought, but it made sense. Quite funny actually.

Simviation Forums

October 4, 1957, The Beginning of the Space Age

October 4, 1957, The Beginning of the Space Age

Re: October 4, 1957, The Beginning of the Space Ag

Re: October 4, 1957, The Beginning of the Space Ag