Sputnik+Tyler+1

America was once thought to be at the head of technology, but on October 4th, 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first Earth satellite. Sputnik was a team of satellites launched by the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1961. Sputnik 1 traveled at 18,000 miles per hour, and circled the Earth every 96 minutes. Sputnik 1 was the first man made object in space. On January 31st, 1958 the United States launched their first Earth satellite, Explorer 1. Sputnik 1 returned to Earth on January 4th, 1958.

In 1961 the Soviet Union and the United States launched their first manned satellites. Sputnik 2 also carried the first space traveler, which happened to be a dog. There were 10 Sputniks altogether launched between 1957 and 1961. Sputnik 1 was made of alloy steel with four antennas coming from the center. The first space traveler dog, in Sputnik 2, was named Laika. The first failure in the Sputniks was with Sputnik 3. The first two Sputniks launched perfectly though.

America was not far behind the Soviet Union. Sputnik 1 can be seen in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.