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| A Sputnik 1 launch cover from "KNIGA", postmarked in Moscow with a hand cancel dated October 4, 1957. The postmark was backdated because the successful launch of Sputnik 1 was not made public until after it had taken place. |
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite, from the Baikonur launch site in Soviet Kazakhstan. Its successful launch marked the beginning of the Space Age and intensified the emerging Space Race.
Sputnik 1 was developed as part of the Soviet Union’s contribution to the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957–58. Sergei Korolev and his team had originally been developing a much larger scientific satellite, known as Object D, but delays threatened the planned launch schedule. Korolev therefore proposed a much simpler satellite that could be completed quickly and launched ahead of the United States.
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| Photo: An image depicting the cross-section of the Sputnik 1 satellite. |
The resulting spacecraft, designated PS-1 (Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1, or “Simplest Satellite-1”), was a polished aluminum sphere approximately 58 cm (23 inches) in diameter and weighing about 83.6 kg (184 lb). Four whip antennas extended from the sphere to transmit its radio signals.
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| Photo: A replica of Sputnik 1 on display at an exhibition. |
Sputnik 1 was launched aboard an R-7 rocket at 22:28:34 Moscow Time on October 4, 1957. The launch vehicle successfully accelerated the satellite to orbital velocity, placing it into an elliptical orbit around Earth. The satellite initially orbited at roughly 227 × 945 km, with an inclination of about 65 degrees and an orbital period of approximately 96 minutes.
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| Photo: The orbital trajectory of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite. |
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| Photo: A map of the United States displaying the anticipated orbital trajectory of Sputnik 1. |
Sputnik 1 carried no scientific instruments; its primary payload was a radio transmitter that broadcast signals on two frequencies. The distinctive “beep-beep” signals were detected by radio operators around the world, confirming that the satellite was successfully orbiting Earth. The transmissions continued for about 21 days until the batteries were exhausted on October 26, 1957. Sputnik 1 remained in orbit until reentering the atmosphere on January 4, 1958.
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| Photo: Sputnik 1 appearing as a bright streak (top left) among the stars in the night sky. |
The Sputnik 1 stamp, released on November 4, 1957, was designed by Yevgeny Gundobin, a Moscow graphic artist. After Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957, Gundobin began work on a stamp commemorating the achievement. Contemporary accounts say he used a technical diagram of Sputnik 1 and its orbit published in Pravda on October 9 as the basis for the design.
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| A Sputnik 1 First Day Cover, postmarked in Moscow with a hand cancel on November 4, 1957. |
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| A Sputnik 1 commemorative overprint First Day Cover, postmarked in Moscow with a hand cancel on December 28, 1957. |
The resulting 40-kopek stamp depicts the Earth with Sputnik 1 following an elliptical orbital path. It bears the inscription “First in the World Soviet Artificial Earth Satellite” and became the first original Soviet postage stamp specifically devoted to an artificial satellite.
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| A cover from “KNIGA” featuring the Sputnik 1 stamp, postmarked in Moscow with a hand cancel dated October 4, 1957. The cover is backdated, as the Sputnik 1 stamp was not issued until November 4, 1957. |
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| A cover from “KNIGA” featuring the Sputnik 1 commemorative overprint stamp, postmarked in Moscow with a hand cancel dated October 4, 1957. The cover is backdated, as the Sputnik 1 commemorative overprint stamp was not issued until December 28, 1957. |
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| A cover commemorating the launch of Sputnik 1, postmarked at Moscow M-127 with a hand cancel dated October 4, 1957. |
