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  • 50th Anniversary of the Space Era- Sputnik 1 and the International Geophysical Year

    Paper ID

    7888

    author

    • Johannes Ortner

    company

    country

    Austria

    year

    2007

    abstract

    The Year 2007 happens to be the 50th Anniversary of Launching of the first man made satellite Sputnik 1 by the erstwhile USSR. This launch, during the 1957-58 International Geophysical Year (IGY), opened out the Space Age and was one of the defining events of the 20th century. The prestige involved in a first earth satellite in orbit and the following competition for new goals in space exploration also resulted in the space race between the Soviet Union and the USA. The launch of Sputnik 1 was officially announced by Academician Leonid Sedov during the 8th IAC in Barcelona. A short documentary of the manufacturing and launch of the Sputnik 1 together with artifact will introduce the space pioneers of the panel. They will present their personal memories of this event, and their own perception of the following space race in respective countries. As a moderated historical event’ the space pioneers, historian scholars and the audience will have the opportunity to exchange views on this historical event 50 years ago, its significance and the results there from.