# Sputnik programme
**Wikidata**: [Q170413](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q170413)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_called_Sputnik)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sputnik-programme

## Summary
The **Sputnik programme** was a series of Soviet space missions that launched the first artificial Earth satellites, marking the beginning of the space age. It included historic flights like *Sputnik 1* (the first satellite in orbit) and *Sputnik 2* (which carried the dog Laika into space), and ran from 1957 to 1961.

## Key Facts
- **First artificial satellite**: *Sputnik 1* launched on October 4, 1957, becoming the first human-made object to orbit Earth.
- **First living being in orbit**: *Sputnik 2* (November 3, 1957) carried the dog Laika, the first animal in space (though it did not return alive).
- **Duration**: The programme operated from 1957 to 1961.
- **Country**: Conducted by the Soviet Union.
- **Notable missions**: Included *Korabl-Sputnik 2* (first to safely return animals from orbit) and *Korabl-Sputnik 5* (precursor to human spaceflight).
- **Replaced by**: The *Vostok programme*, which later carried the first human (Yuri Gagarin) into space.
- **Subclass**: Part of the broader category of *artificial Earth satellites*.
- **Audio signature**: *Sputnik 1* emitted a distinctive "beep" signal (available [here](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Sputnik_beep.ogg)).

## FAQs
### Q: What was the first satellite launched by the Sputnik programme?
A: *Sputnik 1*, launched on October 4, 1957, was the first artificial Earth satellite and the inaugural mission of the programme.

### Q: Did any Sputnik missions carry animals?
A: Yes. *Sputnik 2* carried the dog Laika into orbit in 1957, though she did not survive. Later *Korabl-Sputnik* missions (e.g., *Korabl-Sputnik 2* and *5*) successfully returned animals to Earth.

### Q: How long did the Sputnik programme last?
A: The programme ran from 1957 to 1961, after which it was succeeded by the *Vostok programme*.

### Q: What was the significance of the Sputnik programme?
A: It marked the start of the space race, demonstrated Soviet technological leadership, and paved the way for human spaceflight and modern satellite technology.

### Q: Were all Sputnik missions successful?
A: No. For example, an early version of *Sputnik 3* failed, and *Sputnik 2* was not designed to return Laika safely. Later *Korabl-Sputnik* missions achieved safe returns.

## Why It Matters
The Sputnik programme was a turning point in 20th-century science and geopolitics. By launching the first artificial satellite, the Soviet Union proved the feasibility of space exploration, triggering the U.S.-Soviet space race and accelerating advancements in rocketry, telecommunications, and scientific research. The programme’s success forced nations to prioritize STEM education (e.g., the U.S. National Defense Education Act) and led to the development of spy satellites, GPS, and global communications networks. Culturally, Sputnik symbolized the Cold War’s technological competition and inspired generations to pursue space science. Without Sputnik, modern satellite-dependent technologies—from weather forecasting to the internet—might have developed far more slowly.

## Notable For
- **Firsts in space**: *Sputnik 1* (first satellite), *Sputnik 2* (first animal in orbit), and *Korabl-Sputnik 2* (first safe return of animals).
- **Cold War catalyst**: Directly sparked the U.S.-Soviet space race and the creation of NASA (1958).
- **Technological breakthroughs**: Demonstrated the viability of orbital mechanics and long-range rocket systems.
- **Precursor to human spaceflight**: *Korabl-Sputnik* missions tested life-support systems used in the *Vostok programme*.
- **Cultural icon**: The "Sputnik beep" became a global symbol of the space age, referenced in media and politics.

## Body
### Overview
The **Sputnik programme** was a series of robotic space missions conducted by the Soviet Union between 1957 and 1961. It consisted of two main phases:
1. **Sputnik satellites (1957–1958)**: Early orbital tests (*Sputnik 1–3*).
2. **Korabl-Sputnik missions (1960–1961)**: Test flights for the *Vostok* human spaceflight programme.

### Key Missions
- **Sputnik 1** (October 4, 1957):
  - Mass: 83.6 kg.
  - Orbit: Elliptical, 92–947 km altitude.
  - Transmitted radio signals for 21 days.
  - Burned up in the atmosphere on January 4, 1958.

- **Sputnik 2** (November 3, 1957):
  - Mass: 508.3 kg (heaviest satellite at the time).
  - Carried Laika, a stray dog, in a pressurized cabin.
  - Laika died within hours due to overheating; the satellite re-entered in April 1958.

- **Sputnik 3** (May 15, 1958):
  - Intended as a scientific satellite but initially failed.
  - Later successful version carried instruments to study Earth’s upper atmosphere and radiation belts.

- **Korabl-Sputnik 2** (August 19, 1960):
  - First mission to send animals (dogs Belka and Strelka) into orbit and return them alive.
  - Paved the way for Yuri Gagarin’s flight in 1961.

- **Korabl-Sputnik 5** (March 25, 1961):
  - Carried the dog Zvezdochka and a mannequin, completing a single orbit before landing safely.
  - Final test before *Vostok 1*.

### Technical Details
- **Rockets**: Launched using modified R-7 ICBMs (e.g., *Sputnik 8K71PS* for *Sputnik 1*).
- **Orbital mechanics**: Demonstrated stable low-Earth orbits and re-entry techniques.
- **Payloads**: Early satellites carried radio transmitters; later missions included biological specimens and scientific instruments.

### Legacy
- **Space race**: Prompted the U.S. to accelerate its space efforts, leading to the creation of NASA (1958) and the Apollo programme.
- **Scientific impact**: Proved satellites could operate in space, enabling later communications, weather, and spy satellites.
- **Cultural influence**: The word "Sputnik" entered global lexicons, symbolizing both Soviet achievement and Western anxiety.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Sputnik programme",
  "description": "A series of Soviet space missions (1957–1961) that launched the first artificial Earth satellites, including Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_called_Sputnik",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188915",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spacecraft_called_Sputnik"
  ],
  "additionalType": "SpaceMission",
  "startDate": "1957",
  "endDate": "1961",
  "countryOfOrigin": {
    "@type": "Country",
    "name": "Soviet Union"
  },
  "hasPart": [
    {
      "@type": "Thing",
      "name": "Sputnik 1"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Thing",
      "name": "Sputnik 2"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Thing",
      "name": "Korabl-Sputnik 2"
    }
  ]
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BabelNet
3. National Library of Israel
4. KBpedia