Sputnik Anniversary

The past, present and future of space exploration are considered in this look back at Sputnik (Space - 50 Years of Spaceflight: Astronauts Ponder the State of Exploration):

Sputnik's first flight and the advancements that led to Gagarin's launch and NASA's Apollo landings marked a pivotal point for human exploration, one that has led to a permanent presence for astronauts aboard the ISS.