
![]() |
1957. Laika. Sputnik 2. |
![]() |
Launch of Sputnik 1. Baikonur, USSR |
![]() |
Sputnik 1, exploded view. You may also click here to download a large (~7MB), high-resolution jpg version of this image or an even bigger (~17MB) tif version. |
![]() |
October. 17, 1957. The first official photograph of the Soviet Satellite Rocket using the new giant IGY satellite tracking camera was taken at South Pasadena, California at 5:06 a.m. PST, October 17, 1957 by the Smithsonian Astronphysical Observatory personnel. The rocket appears in the lower part of the photograph -- its movement with relation to two stars, Pi Aurigae and Beta Aurigae, can be seen. Time is recorded to 1/1000 second. The trailing exposures result from the special design of the camera to provide tracking information. |

Updated February 2, 2005