AP Success - AP US History: Sputnik

The launch of the world's first artificial satellite was one of the Cold War's watershed moments.

Source 1

As a result of very intensive work by scientific research institutes and design bureaus the first artificial satellite in the world has been created. On October 4, 1957, this first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR... the carrier rocket has imparted to the satellite the required orbital velocity of about 8000 meters per second... the satellite is describing elliptical trajectories around the earth, and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting sun with the aid of very simple optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.)... the satellite will travel at altitudes up to 900 kilometers above the surface of the earth; the time for a complete revolution of the satellite will be one hour and thirty-five minutes… The satellite has a spherical shape 58 centimeters in diameter and weighs 83.6 kilograms... During the International Geophysical Year the Soviet Union proposes launching several more artificial earth satellites... Artificial earth satellites will pave the way to interplanetary travel and, apparently our contemporaries will witness how the freed and conscientious labor of the people of the new socialist society makes the most daring dreams of mankind a reality.

“Announcement of the First Satellite,” Pravda, October 5, 1957

Question 1

Short answer

Briefly describe ONE technological advancement described in the pasage.

Question 2

Short answer

Briefly explain ONE specific way the United States responded to the event expressed in the excerpt.

Question 3

Short answer

Briefly explain ONE specific way the event expressed in the excerpt changed the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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