Sputnik Timeline

(October 4, 1957 – January 4, 1958)

Sputnik was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Its successful orbit shocked the United States and triggered the Space Race, leading to major advances in rocketry, education, and space exploration, including the creation of NASA. More Less

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Origins and Planning

Decision to build the R-7 rocket

May 20, 1954

The decision to build the R-7 rocket was made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on 20 May 1954, laying the groundwork for the vehicle that would later launch Sputnik 1.

Korolev proposes artificial satellite plan

Dec 17, 1954

On 17 December 1954, chief Soviet rocket scientist Sergei Korolev proposed a developmental plan for an artificial satellite to the Minister of the Defense Industry, Dimitri Ustinov.

Baikonur Cosmodrome site approved

Feb 12, 1955

The selection of the launch site was approved on 12 February 1955 by the Council of Ministers of the USSR, but the site would not be completed until 1958.

Council of Ministers approves satellite work

Jan 30, 1956

On 30 January 1956, the Council of Ministers approved practical work on an artificial Earth-orbiting satellite. This satellite, named Object D, was planned to be completed in 1957–58; it would have a mass of 1,000 to 1,400 kg (2,200 to 3,100 lb) and would carry 200 to 300 kg (440 to 660 lb) of scientific instruments. The first test launch of Object D was scheduled for 1957.

Preliminary design work completed

Jul 1956

Preliminary design work was completed in July 1956 and the scientific tasks to be carried out by the satellite were defined.

Object D delayed due to design complexity

Dec 31, 1956

By the end of 1956, it became clear that the complexity of the ambitious design meant that Object D could not be launched in time because of difficulties creating scientific instruments and the low specific impulse produced by the completed R-7 engines (304 seconds instead of the planned 309 to 310 seconds). Consequently, the government rescheduled the launch for April 1958.

Image source: Sputnik 1

Sputnik models introduced

Feb 15, 1957

The models, manufactured by OKB-1 and NII-885 (headed by Mikhail Ryazansky), were introduced on 15 February 1957.

Object PS simple satellite approved

Feb 15, 1957

On 15 February 1957 the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved this simple satellite, designated Object PS, PS meaning 'prosteishiy sputnik', or 'elementary satellite'.

First R-7 rocket launch

May 15, 1957

The first launch of an R-7 rocket (8K71 No.5L) occurred on 15 May 1957, demonstrating the booster that would carry Sputnik 1 into orbit.

Image source: R-7 Semyorka

Space Race Reactions

United States announces satellite launch plans

Jul 29, 1955

On 29 July 1955, the United States announced that it would launch a satellite before the USSR, prompting OKB-1 to suggest the creation and launch of a Soviet satellite in April–May 1957, before the International Geophysical Year began in July 1957.

Gavin predicts Soviet satellite launch

Sep 12, 1957

James M. Gavin wrote in 1958 that he had predicted to the Army Scientific Advisory Panel on 12 September 1957 that the Soviets would launch a satellite within 30 days, and that on 4 October he and Wernher von Braun had agreed that a launch was imminent.

Image source: Sputnik crisis

Vanguard TV-3 failure televised

Dec 6, 1957

Meanwhile, the televised failure of Vanguard TV-3 on 6 December 1957 deepened American dismay over the country's position in the Space Race.

Image source: Vanguard TV-3

National Defense Education Act enacted

1958

With a sense of urgency, Congress enacted the 1958 National Defense Education Act, which provided low-interest loans for college tuition to students majoring in mathematics and science. Public reaction to the Sputnik crisis also spurred the creation of NASA through the National Aeronautics and Space Act, and space became a dominant issue in the 1960 presidential campaign.

Image source: National Defense Education Act

Explorer 1 launched by the United States

Jan 31, 1958

Together with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the Army Ballistic Missile Agency built Explorer 1, and launched it on 31 January 1958, becoming America's first satellite.

Image source: Explorer 1

Explorer 1 launched by the United States

ARPA created in response to Sputnik

Feb 1958

The USSR's launch of Sputnik 1 spurred the United States to create the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA, later DARPA) in February 1958 to regain a technological lead.

Image source: DARPA

Launch and Mission

Khrushchev orders second satellite for revolution anniversary

Oct 1957

Shortly after the launch of PS-1, Khrushchev pressed Korolev to launch another satellite to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, on 7 November 1957.

Sputnik 1 launched into orbit

Oct 4, 1957

Sputnik 1 was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program, becoming the first artificial Earth satellite and marking the beginning of the Space Age.

Sputnik 1 transmitter batteries depleted

Oct 26, 1957

The signals continued for 22 days until the transmitter batteries depleted on 26 October 1957, after the satellite had completed 326 orbits.

Sputnik 2 launched with Laika

Nov 3, 1957

Before American work was completed, however, the Soviet Union launched a second satellite, Sputnik 2, on 3 November 1957, carrying the dog Laika into orbit.

Image source: Sputnik 2

R-7 core stage reenters atmosphere

Dec 2, 1957

The core stage of the R-7 remained in orbit for two months until 2 December 1957, while Sputnik 1 orbited for three months, until 4 January 1958.

Sputnik 1 burns up in atmosphere

Jan 4, 1958

Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958. After three months in orbit, Sputnik 1 burned up while reentering Earth's atmosphere, having completed 1,440 orbits of the Earth, and travelling a distance of approximately 70,000,000 km (43,000,000 mi).

Legacy and Commemorations

Herb Caen coins the term 'beatnik'

Apr 2, 1958

The American writer Herb Caen was inspired to coin the term 'beatnik' in an article about the Beat Generation in the San Francisco Chronicle on 2 April 1958, reflecting Sputnik's cultural impact.

Image source: Beatnik

Soviet Union donates Sputnik replica to UN

1959

In 1959, the Soviet Union donated a replica of Sputnik to the United Nations, symbolizing the dawn of the space age for the international community.

Sputnik 40 deployed from Mir

Nov 1997

Three one-third scale student-built replicas of Sputnik 1 were deployed from the Mir space station between 1997 and 1999. The first, named Sputnik 40 to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, was deployed in November 1997.

Sputnik 41 launched

1998

Sputnik 41 was launched a year after Sputnik 40, continuing the series of student-built commemorative replicas deployed from the Mir space station.

Sputnik 99 deployed from Mir

Feb 1999

Sputnik 99 was deployed from the Mir space station in February 1999, completing the trio of one-third scale student-built replicas of Sputnik 1.

Sputnik model auctioned and donated to museum

2001

Authenticated by the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow, the unit was auctioned in 2001 and purchased by an anonymous private buyer, who donated it to the museum.

Google celebrates Sputnik's 50th anniversary

Oct 3, 2007

On 3 October 2007 Google celebrated Sputnik's 50th anniversary with a Google Doodle, honoring the historic first artificial satellite.

Key Facts

Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard an R-7 rocket.
It was a polished metal sphere about 58 cm (23 inches) in diameter, weighing approximately 83.6 kg (184 pounds).
Sputnik transmitted radio pulses that could be detected by amateur radio operators around the world for about three weeks.
Its launch shocked the United States and led directly to the creation of NASA in 1958 and increased investment in science education.
Sputnik re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on January 4, 1958, after completing roughly 1,440 orbits.

Source

This Sputnik timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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