In 1957, the former Soviet Union sent into orbit Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite in history. Sputnik's launch came as an unnerving surprise to the United States. Join curator Cathleen Lewis as she discusses Sputnik 1, and discover how this simple satellite changed super power politics forever.
Meet at the Museum's "Great Seal," in front of the Welcome Center, in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall on the first floor. About the Ask an Expert lecture series: Every Wednesday at noon in the National Mall Building, a Museum staff member talks to the public about the history, collection, or personalities related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum.
Sputnik, launched by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) on October 4, 1957, marked a simple, yet profound event in history: the placement of the first human-made satellite into Earth orbit.