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Sputnik

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Sputnik refers to a series of artificial Earth satellites launched by the Soviet Union, with Sputnik 1 being the first successful launch on October 4, 1957, marking the start of the space age. Sputnik 1 was an aluminum sphere with radio antennas, transmitting signals back to Earth and providing data about the ionosphere and atmospheric density. Its launch spurred the "Space Race" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and led to the creation of NASA. Key terms associated with Sputnik include: artificial satellite, Soviet space program, Space Race, and International Geophysical Year.

gov defenseFounded 1957
Soviet Union
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Complex A at Tyuratam was the original Sputnik launch pad.

GeneralValue 2.5Apr 20, 2026Big little rocket: The N1 Moon rocket and the cognitive dissonance of spy satellite photography

In October 1957, Sputnik became the world’s first artificial satellite.

GeneralValue 1.2Mar 23, 2026The legal aspects of outer space settlers and settlements

Diego M. Tobarra notes that space has been militarized since the launch of Sputnik in 1957 due to extensive military use for observation and communications.

GeneralValue 1.6Mar 11, 2026"Los satélites ya son infraestructuras críticas": expertos alertan de la vulnerabilidad de la militarización del espacio

President Eisenhower agreed that the U.S. should have a civilian space agency named NASA after Sputnik.

LegalGeneralValue 2.1Oct 27, 2025Is Starfleet military or scientific? Yes.

The R-7 was retired as an ICBM but remained in service as a space launch vehicle, successfully launching both Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Oct 20, 2025Unleashing hell: the R-16 ICBM

The Eisenhower Administration used the Sputnik-1 overflights and the absence of protests from States to establish the customary international law principle of freedom of outer space, as reflected in a memorandum from the National Security Council dated October 10, 1957.

LegalGeneralValue 3.0Jun 30, 2025Taiwan’s satellites: A lawfare vulnerability and an option to cure and enhance deterrence against the PRC (part 1)

State practice following the Sputnik-1 launch and lack of objections to its overflight contributed to the customary international law principle of freedom of outer space, as reflected in a U.S. National Security Council memorandum dated October 10, 1957.

LegalGeneralValue 2.5Jun 30, 2025Taiwan’s satellites: A lawfare vulnerability and an option to cure and enhance deterrence against the PRC (part 1)

The Naval Research Laboratory's original intelligence satellite program was named GRAB and was initiated shortly after Sputnik.

GeneralValue 3.5Mar 31, 2025Fate is in the stars: the PARCAE ocean surveillance satellites

Complex A at Baikonur was the site of the first Sputnik launch and Yuri Gagarin's launch.

GeneralValue 2.0Nov 13, 2023Something goes boom in the night: the explosion of a Cold War secret

US President Dwight D. Eisenhower referred to Sputnik as a 'small ball in the air' before recognizing its significance.

GeneralValue 1.6Oct 16, 2023The brave new world of space

The launch of Sputnik prompted the formation of DARPA and NASA.

GeneralValue 2.0Oct 16, 2023The brave new world of space

Sputnik 1 was the world's first satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957.

GeneralValue 2.0Oct 16, 2023The brave new world of space

The American Vanguard Test Vehicle Three crashed and exploded two months after Sputnik's launch.

GeneralPlanValue 3.0Oct 16, 2023The brave new world of space

Seradata’s SpaceTrak database covers all launches and satellites since Sputnik in 1957 as well as future planned spacecraft and launches.

GeneralPlanValue 2.8Aug 5, 2022Slingshot Aerospace Acquires Numerica’s Space Domain Awareness Division and Seradata

The SpaceTrak database and analytics platform covers all launches and satellites since Sputnik in 1957.

GeneralCapabilityValue 2.0Aug 3, 2022Slingshot acquires Numerica’s space-tracking business and UK space data firm Seradata

Seradata’s SpaceTrak database covers all launches and satellites since Sputnik in 1957 and includes future planned spacecraft and launches.

GeneralPlanValue 3.0Aug 3, 2022Dual acquisitions by Slingshot Aerospace include Numerica’s Space Division + UK-based Seradata

Greenpro Capital Corp. intends to allocate and sell a portion of 7,700 Sputnik NFTs, which Greenpro acquired on 2021-04-22, to help back Angkasa-X.

PlanRelationshipsValue 3.0Apr 26, 2021ASEAN-LINK Satellite Constellation Formation Underway

Greenpro’s Sputnik NFT investment produced a current mark-to-market profit of $379 per NFT.

FinancialGeneralValue 4.0Apr 26, 2021ASEAN-LINK Satellite Constellation Formation Underway

The number of satellites approved in the 2018-11-15 FCC action nearly equals the 8,126 objects that have been launched into space since Sputnik in 1957.

LegalValue 3.5Nov 15, 2018FCC approves SpaceX, Telesat, LeoSat and Kepler internet constellations

A 2018-05-19 Sputnik report claimed Boeing was negotiating with Energia to purchase an additional Soyuz spacecraft for a 2020 mission to the International Space Station carrying two NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut, with the expectation that the U.S. would pay the entire cost.

PlanRelationshipsLegalValue 3.0May 25, 2018ISS crew schedules delay need for commercial crew
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