Fifty years ago today, an oversize and remarkably overambitious lawn dart became the world’s first artificial satellite. Its regular beeping could be heard around the world as it completed approximately 1440 96-minute orbits before falling back to Earth. Though less than two feet in diameter, this little thing ushered in an era of massive advances, exploration, and determination… ultimately culminating in us not being a whole lot farther out than it was.
When you consider how far we have come in 50 years of other technologies, such as computers, networks, vehicles, aircraft, etc., the “Space Race” has to be one of the more disappointing things out there. Regardless, congratulations to the Soviets for landing the first blow and being the first across the starting line. It is always good to remember the beginnings of things to better understand where they are now.
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