Thread by @scifri

60 years ago today, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik I satellite into space. scifri.me/uha6mx

The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball & weighed just 183.9 lb. But its implications were enormous.

To Americans, Sputnik represented a crisis. It traveled at 18,000 mph—faster than it would take to send a missile from Russia to the U.S.

To the Soviets, the satellite was a demonstration of technological superiority. scifri.me/uha6mx

But Sputnik launched both countries into the Space Race, & into an era of scientific competition and inquiry. scifri.me/uha6mx

#Sputnik1 spurred the U.S. to kickstart its own space advancements, like the development of @NASA and the Apollo Program.

In fact, Leon Lederman has said, "Gee, if we only had a Sputnik to spur us through to fix our educational system.” scifri.me/uha6mx

But #Sputnik1 gave us something else as well—a renewed sense of awe and curiosity of the unknown territory beyond our planet.

And as the world faces new problems, some scientists say a reflection on Sputnik & science could be the ticket to future mutual success.

Keep gazing skyward, geeks! scifri.me/uha6mx