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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
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
