Sputnik: Quick Facts

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Laika, the dog sent into space on Sputnik II, sits inside a small capsule with her head and front paws visible, surrounded by equipment.

Diagram of Sputnik 1 showing its polished spherical aluminum shell, four long radio-signal antenna rods, and internal battery casing and radio transmitter.

Top five milestones in space exploration history

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Topics

Integral James Webb Space Telescope Kepler THEMIS Aryabhata Chandra X-ray Observatory Spitzer Space Telescope Vanguard Telstar Planck

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psychology: After World War II and Sputnik

Key People

Glushko, Valentin Petrovich

Valentin Petrovich Glushko

Soviet scientist

The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet

Space Odyssey

Buzz Aldrin. Apollo 11. Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin Aldrin, photographed July 20, 1969, during the first manned mission to the Moon's surface. Reflected in Aldrin's faceplate is the Lunar Module and astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took the picture.

Exploration and Discovery

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

Soil cohesiveness demonstrated in bootprint of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11. footprint; foot print; moon

Space Exploration

View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).

Astronomy and Space Quiz