The Soviet Satallite that Launched the Space Race

by Neil Raikar, age 13

In 1957, a decade after the Cold War began, an unknown satellite was launched by the Soviet Union, striking fear into the hearts of Americans. This mysterious satellite was named “Sputnik.”

The satellite was created under the dynamics of the Cold War, the competition for human advancement, and as a top-secret project for the International Geophysics Year. Sputnik weighed approximately 185 pounds, the weight of an average human for reference. This was considered huge for American standards at the time. It was developed in what is now modern-day Kazakhstan, and it was also launched on a ballistic missile.

Sputnik was scary to many Americans not only due to its “massive size”, but also because it made America look bad, as the U.S. had failed to launch a much smaller satellite. The Soviets had much better ballistic missile and broadcasting technology, which the U.S. dismissed as Soviet propaganda. This was another blow to American pride after the humiliation, with concerns about the source of American accomplishments.

A month after Sputnik was launched, the Soviets decided to build on their success and develop Sputnik II; this time, a mixed-breed dog named Laika was in it.

The success of the Soviet Union at the time challenged the Americans and inspired them to reach for similar or better accomplishments. Ultimately, the dynamic of Soviet success helped America push itself to retaliate by funding NASA and investing in science and technological advancements leading to the achievements we see today.

[Sources: We Interrupt This Broadcast; NASA; Encyclopedia Britannica]