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DAYTON, Ohio — Sputnik I exhibit in the Missile & Space Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Photo By U.S. Air Force –

10 Things to know about the Sputnik Crisis during Cold War

Before the Sputnik V COVID vaccine, Sputnik was a 20th-century innovation that shook the Western Nations to their core. On October 4^th, 1957, the Russians launched Iskutsstvennye Sputnik Zemli, shortened to Sputnik 1, the first man-made satellite into space.

At the time, the once admirable relationship between the Soviet Union and the U.S. had gone sour. By 1948, the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and the U.S. broke off the alliance they had formed to govern the German and Austrian territories attained after the Second World War, marking the beginning of the Cold War.

The cold war involved indirect battles between the two superpowers, America and the Soviet Union. Each wanted to show its dominance in science, technology, politics, and military defence. The Americans had no idea how far Soviet technology had advanced until the launch of Sputnik 1.

The thought that the Soviet Union had surpassed America and Britain in science and engineering was worrying. Sputnik 1 was proof of an existing gap between The United States and the Soviet Union. In addition, America didn’t have an inkling of the foreign object’s purpose. A military operation that was set up for their destruction? Maybe. That alone was enough to send the Western nations into anxiety and panic.

Learn about other important dates and occurrences during the Cold war here.

1. The Sputnik Crisis Occurred During the International Geophysical Year

Logo of The International Geophysical Year. Photo Source

The announcement of an International Geophysical Year (I.G.Y.) was made five years before its official commencement. The event’s objective was to study space phenomena and Earth’s systems.

With 67 participating countries, I.G.Y. officially set off in July 1957. In 1955, the U.S. publicly stated that they would soon be launching small satellites. This was the country’s contribution to I.G.Y. A few days later, a Soviet announcement followed, claiming they were also launching their satellites in the ensuing months.

In October 1957, Sputnik 1 became the first artificial satellite to be launched. The unsuccessful rocket launch by the U.S. in December 1957 made it clear that the Soviets had the upper hand in technology. Just as the Soviet R-7 rocket launched Sputnik, the probability of it serving as a catapult for nuclear weapons was high, causing panic and unsettlement in the West.

2. The America C.I.A Was Aware Of The Spaceport’s Construction Before Its Launch

Last of the original batch of U-2A Dragon Lady aircraft, on display at the USAF Museum. Photo By USAF –

The Soviets had formed a political boundary to prevent open contact with the West. The boundary created much uncertainty about the development of Russia and its satellite states; therefore the use of spies became essential.

In 1955, a prototype of the soon-to-be American spy jet flew across the sky in preparation for its official launch in 1956. The United States had created a high-altitude plane to gather and record information on the Soviets after the two territories broke off their alliance.

The Dragon Lady, also known as U 2 Spy Pane, was the jet Central Intelligence Agency (C.I.A) and Air force used to watch over possible nuclear weapons tests in Russia. The surveillance spotted the construction of the satellite and its rocket missile months before it was launched into space.

3. Sputnik Was A Threat To America’s National Security

The successful orbiting of the Russian satellite was a rude awakening to the countries of the West. Their first attempt at launching America’s rocket, Vanguard TV-3, on December 1957 flopped massively. Practically, their rivals were way ahead in tech, and this proved their security was under threat, something they could not afford in case another war were to break out. 

Five days after reaching space, the Soviet government was yet to release pictorial evidence of Sputnik’s location in space. The American government knew nothing of its whereabouts, which escalated the anxiety about exactly what the satellite was built for.

Surprisingly, the objectives of Sputnik 1 were completely educational. It set out to investigate radio waves’ behaviour in space and identify how dense the Earth’s atmosphere was. The Russian scientist also wanted to test the placement method of artificial satellites along the Earth’s orbit.

4. The Features Of The Satellite Contributed To The Sputnik Crisis

Sputnik 1 at the National Air and Space Museum. Photo By Mys 721tx –

Sputnik 1 was a spherical satellite with a diameter of 58 cm, the average size of a beach ball. According to America’s research on space objects, Sputnik 1’s physical attributes made it impractical to go past the Earth’s atmosphere. Its weight was too heavy for it to orbit around the Earth fully. 

 The U.S. had planned to launch its satellite which weighed 9.8-kilos compared to the 83-kilo Russian device. Sputnik 1 was six times heavier than America’s first space device, Explorer 1, which was sent into space four months after Sputnik 1.

5. It Was The Beginning Of The Space Age

NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo By NASA/Kim Shiflett –

The Russian invention sparked an interest in exploring outer space, opening a new scientific era. America’s first satellite, Explorer 1, was ready for launch in 1956. By 1957, sufficient research on space rockets and the development of powerful missiles was underway.

However, the apprehension that loomed in the U.S. after Sputnik 1, accelerated the creation of their space program. In July 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act creating America’s astronomical organization known as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

6. The Sputnik 1 Crisis Headlined Over Thirty American Articles In Just Four Weeks

After the launch of the satellite, American media houses were in a frenzy, and Sputnik became a headliner in multiple outlets. The New York Times newspaper mentioned the satellite 275 times in their October articles.

The newspapers, magazines, and broadcasting channels stirred up Americans, eventually causing a state of hysteria. According to the publications, scientific development was a metric on who amongst the two superpowers was deemed prestigious in the Cold war.

7. It Led To The Advancement Of Education Systems In The Western Countries

From 1955 to 1961, America trained half the number of scientists as the Soviets. The Democrats in America were quick to point fingers at the government for failing in the country’s technological progressions.

Consequently, much focus was put on the education systems of the West. Research and development became the nation’s top priority. A 1957 New York Times article dated October 10th speculated that the satellite was the cause behind policy revision on the use of government funds in the U.S.

In September 1958, Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act, a law that provided funding for educational institutions for the expansion and improvement of programs. The science curricula received over one billion USD, hoping the programs would tailor teams of defence-oriented personnel.

8. The Sputnik Crisis Was A Moment Of Victory For the Soviet Union

Flag-map of the Soviet Union (1945-1955). Photo By Dmitry Averin –

Between the 1940 and mid-1950s, the U.S. stood as the dominant superpower compared to the Soviet Union. America was the first to build a jet with the outstanding features of U-2. The U-2 was a single-pilot plane that flew 18,000 meters above sea level requiring the pilot to wear a space suit!

Moreover, the first atomic bomb responsible for Hiroshima and Nagasaki explosions was the invention of an American physicist. It was evident the U.S. were geared up in case of war.

Sputnik 1 was a celebratory moment for the Russians and members of the Soviet Union since America was yet to launch a similar object into space. The Soviets knew they had overpowered U.K. and U.S. after their satellite completed an oscillation round the Earth lasting nearly four months in outer space.

Click here to learn insights on the formation and dissolution of Soviet Union and other historical events that changed the world. 

9. The Sputnik Crisis Grew The Popularity of The Suffix –nik

After its launch, Sputnik became a popular term among Americans and Russians. The suffix of its name coined several English words, like sicknik, that were used informally to refer to an individual associated with a previously stated quality.

The suffix existed before 1957 but was inactive in the English language. Other American words that adopted the term include beatnik, noisenik, badnik, and around ten others.

10. The Sputnik Crisis Was Documented In Films and Books

Aside from being published in newspapers and magazines, Sputnik 1 became a critical topic of discussion in various literature platforms. The event created a whirlwind of emotions; soon after, books and movies began being published.

Paul Dickson wrote two books, Sputnik: The launch of the Space Race and Sputnik: The Shock of the Century. Deborah Cadbury’s Space Race: The Epic Battle Between America and Matthew Brzezinski’s The Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivalries that Ignited the Space Age were among the top common reads.

Sputnik Mania (2007) by David Hoffman was a film based on the 1957 occurrence. Other comedy and fictional films include Sputnik (1958) by Jean Dreville, and O Homem do Sputnik (1959) by Carlos Manga.

The Soviets also commemorated the technological achievement with a 40-coin postage stamp depicting the satellite as it orbited Earth.

Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, first person on the Moon. Photo By NASA –

Although the Sputnik crisis caused restlessness in the U.S, it did more harm than good. The country benefited from the improved standards of education. The crisis also pushed its scientist to the limit creating their satellite, Explorer 1. NASA was also born out of this and as a result, the world witnessed the first humans to ever walk on the moon!

Aside from the Sputnik crisis, read on other historical world events in the 1950s.