Sputnik

Type: Concept

As of November 2026, Sputnik has been mentioned in one podcast episode on caltech (Dec 2025). Mentioned as a significant event that shaped Drew Gilpin Faust's childhood fears and perceptions of the Cold War.

Sputnik 1, often referred to as simply Sputnik, was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted. Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on January 4, 1958.