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*Special Edition* |
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Launch of Sputnik I and Start of the "Space Race": 50th Anniversary (Oct. 4) |
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Launched by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957, Sputnik I was the first satellite to be put into orbit. The launch ignited the “Space Race” between the United States and Soviet Union, leading to the United States successfully launching its Explorer I satellite into orbit on Jan. 31, 1958, and culminating in 1969 with its landing of a man on the moon. To mark this anniversary, the Census Bureau has gathered the following facts: 172 million 202.6 million and 114.6 million 534,359 23,653 387,188 110,000 Special Editions of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Facts for Features are issued to provide background information for lesser-known observances, anniversaries of historic events and other timely topics in the news. |
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Editor’s note: Some of the preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may have been subject to sampling variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office at 301-763-3030; fax 301-763-3762; or e-mail <pio@census.gov>. |