Sputnik 4
MAR 09, 2015
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.030914
On this day in 1961 the Soviet Union launched its Korabl-Sputnik 4 spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. On board were some mice, a guinea pig, a dog and a life-sized human mannequin named Ivan Ivanovich. After making one orbit, the spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. To test an ejector system, Ivan was released from the capsule and fell to Earth by parachute. The word MAKET in the black and white photo means “dummy” and was intended to reassure rescuers that they hadn’t discovered a body. Just over a month later, on 12 April, Yuri Gagarin became the first live human to orbit Earth.
Date in History: 9 March 1961
© 2015 American Institute of Physics
