A Launch for the Ages

The world recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of one of the most significant achievements in the history of mankind. On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched into orbit Earth's first artificial satellite and ushered in the space age.

The tiny moonlet was dubbed Sputnik 1, Russian for traveling companion or satellite, and its very existence would change the world forever.

The military applications of the accomplishment were recognized immediately. A rocket powerful enough to place an object into orbit around the earth could also be used to deliver a nuclear payload to nearly any location on Earth. It was this fear that compelled the U.S. to rapidly develop its own rocketry capabilities. Soon both the Soviet Union and the U.S. possessed arsenals of ICBMs armed with H-bombs aimed at one another. Obviously, this greatly increased the intensity of the Cold War between the two countries.

I can still remember taking part in civil defense drills in elementary school. We would be lead out of the classroom into the hallway where we were asked to sit on the floor with our backs against the wall, lean forward and cover our heads with our arms.

Thankfully, the threat of such a wholesale nuclear exchange has, at least for now, been greatly reduced.

Sputnik's impact on the field science was nothing short of spectacular. No longer would the totality of man's endeavors be earthbound. The door was now open to explore the realm above the earth and its atmosphere. This would eventually lead to incredible new knowledge about our solar system and beyond.

So far, our efforts have landed men on the moon, launched unmanned probes to study most of the planets and a few of its moons, checked out a couple of asteroids and comets and sent at least two instrumented packages far outside the solar system into interstellar space.

There are thousands of satellites in earth orbit that we use for communication, national defense and to monitor the weather.

I was 14 years old when I first saw the Russian satellite. Local radio and TV stations announced the dates and times when Sputnik would pass over Portland. It was a warm and clear October evening. I went outside to watch at least five minutes before the predicted arrival, just in case. The rest of the family joined me in the backyard a few minutes later.

And sure enough, right on time, a rapidly moving blinking light appeared out of the WNW, tracked nearly overhead and then disappeared to the ESE before reaching the horizon. We learned later that what we had seen was not actually the transmitting payload itself but was instead sunlight reflected off the tumbling third stage of the launch vehicle. But it didn't matter to me because what I had seen was still orbiting the earth. I could hardy contain my excitement. I had actually seen for myself this new object the whole world was talking about!

This was one of two boyhood experiences that eventually lead me to a career in science.

Well should we celebrate the triumph of Sputnik. It pointed us the way to the stars.