SPUTNIK...
On October 4th, 1957 Russia launched a satellite into Earth's orbit. Named Sputnik, this satellite transmitted beeping radio signals that could be detected on 2 bands of amateur radio equipment 20.005 and 40.002 megahertz frequencies as it traveled around the planet approximately 18,000 miles per hour. Sputnik was a metal ball 23 inches in diameter with antennas sticking out that completed 1440 orbits around the earth. Each orbit was just over 96 minutes.The batteries lasted for 21 days and Sputnik continued it's decaying orbit around earth until it reentered the atmosphere and burned up on January 4th 1958.
The photo below is a replica of Sputnik that is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Missile & Space Gallery in Dayton, Ohio.
Sputnik kicked off space exploration that started a rivalry between Russia (the former Soviet Union) and the United States.
Sputnik is the Russian word for satellite.
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Predating computers, all calculations were done on slide rules.