# Sputnik 8
**Wikidata**: [Q3510069](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3510069)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sputnik-8

## Summary
Sputnik 8 was an artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union on February 12, 1961, as part of the Sputnik program. It was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and is identified by the COSPAR designation 1961-003C. The satellite is represented by the image of a 1958 Chinese stamp depicting Sputnik 8.

## Key Facts
- Launched on February 12, 1961, from Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Part of the Soviet Sputnik program
- COSPAR ID: 1961-003C
- Instance of: artificial satellite
- Has a dedicated Wikipedia page in Bulgarian, Czech, German, and Italian
- Represented by a 1958 Chinese stamp image
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "00077"]
- Has a Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/121z_7yj
- Significant event: rocket launch at Baikonur Cosmodrome on 1961-02-12

## FAQs
### Q: What was Sputnik 8?
A: Sputnik 8 was an artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union on February 12, 1961, as part of the Sputnik program. It was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and is identified by the COSPAR designation 1961-003C.

### Q: When was Sputnik 8 launched?
A: Sputnik 8 was launched on February 12, 1961, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union.

### Q: What is the significance of Sputnik 8?
A: Sputnik 8 represents the Soviet Union's continued efforts in space exploration during the early 1960s. It was part of the Sputnik program, which was a series of pioneering satellite launches that marked significant achievements in the Space Race.

## Why It Matters
Sputnik 8 is significant as part of the Soviet Union's Sputnik program, which played a crucial role in the early days of space exploration. The Sputnik program, beginning with Sputnik 1 in 1957, marked the start of the Space Age and the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States. These satellite launches demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological capabilities and its ability to launch objects into Earth orbit, which had significant implications for both scientific research and military applications. Sputnik 8, launched in 1961, continued this legacy of space exploration and contributed to the growing body of knowledge about Earth's orbit and the challenges of space travel. The program's successes also had a profound impact on public perception of space exploration and inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts worldwide.

## Notable For
- Part of the pioneering Sputnik program that initiated the Space Age
- Launched during the height of the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States
- Represented by a unique 1958 Chinese stamp, showing international recognition
- Contributed to the Soviet Union's string of early space exploration achievements
- Identified by specific technical designations (COSPAR ID: 1961-003C, Wolfram Language entity code)

## Body
### Launch Details
Sputnik 8 was launched on February 12, 1961, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a major space launch facility located in Kazakhstan (then part of the Soviet Union). This launch site has been a crucial hub for Soviet and later Russian space exploration efforts.

### Technical Specifications
As an artificial satellite, Sputnik 8 was designed to orbit Earth. While specific technical details are not provided in the source material, it's likely that the satellite carried various scientific instruments to conduct experiments and gather data in orbit.

### Program Context
Sputnik 8 was part of the larger Sputnik program, a series of satellite launches conducted by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and early 1960s. This program began with the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, which was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth.

### International Recognition
The existence of a 1958 Chinese stamp depicting Sputnik 8 indicates that the satellite and the broader Sputnik program had international recognition, even before Sputnik 8's actual launch in 1961. This suggests the global impact and interest in the Soviet space program during this era.

### Data and Documentation
Sputnik 8 is documented in various international databases and systems, including its COSPAR ID (1961-003C) and its representation in the Wolfram Language as Entity["Satellite", "00077"]. These identifiers ensure that the satellite's data is preserved and accessible for future research and reference.