Q 01/05

On what date was Sputnik 1 launched?

A) 31 January 1958

B) 1 July 1955

C) 12 April 1961

D) 4 October 1957

Answer · why

D) 4 October 1957

It went up during the International Geophysical Year from the Tyuratam range, now the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Q 02/05

What was Sputnik 1's claim to fame?

A) First animal in orbit

B) First photograph of Earth from space

C) First craft to reach the Moon

D) First artificial Earth satellite

Answer · why

D) First artificial Earth satellite

Its success caught the United States off guard and set off the Space Race.

Q 03/05

The Russian word 'sputnik', from s- and putnik, literally means what?

A) Sky-wanderer

B) Far-seer

C) Little moon

D) Fellow-traveller

Answer · why

D) Fellow-traveller

It matches the Latin root satelles, meaning guard or companion, which gave English the word satellite; its everyday meanings include spouse.

Q 04/05

What shape was Sputnik 1?

A) A cone with fins

B) A cube of panels

C) A squat cylinder

D) A polished metal sphere

Answer · why

D) A polished metal sphere

The spherical body was deliberately chosen so atmospheric density could be worked out from how its orbit decayed.

Q 05/05

How many external radio antennas did Sputnik 1 carry?

A) One

B) Four

C) Two

D) Six

Answer · why

B) Four

They came in two pairs of whip-like rods, 2.4 and 2.9 metres long, giving an almost spherical radiation pattern.