AKA: 8K71PS;A;R-7;Semyorka;SL-1. Status: Retired 1957. First Launch: 1957-10-04. Last Launch: 1957-11-03. Number: 2 . Payload: 500 kg (1,100 lb). Thrust: 3,886.00 kN (873,607 lbf). Gross mass: 267,000 kg (588,000 lb). Height: 30.00 m (98.00 ft). Diameter: 2.99 m (9.80 ft). Span: 9.76 m (32.02 ft). Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).

LEO Payload: 500 kg (1,100 lb) to a 200 km orbit at 65.00 degrees. Flyaway Unit Cost 1985$: 33.000 million.

• Sputnik 1 - . Payload: PS. Mass: 84 kg (185 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MVS. Class: Technology. Type: Navigation technology satellite. Spacecraft: Sputnik 1. Decay Date: 1958-01-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 2 . COSPAR: 1957-Alpha-2. Apogee: 945 km (587 mi). Perigee: 227 km (141 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 96.10 min.

  First artificial satellite; transmitted signals for 21 days. Launching of first ever artificial satellite of the Earth; physical study of the atmosphere; remained in orbit until January 4, 1958. This event began the space race by galvanizing interest and action on the part of the American public to support an active role in space research, technology, and exploration.

• Sputnik 2 - . Payload: PS-2. Mass: 508 kg (1,119 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MVS. Class: Biology. Type: Biology satellite. Spacecraft: Sputnik 2. Decay Date: 1958-04-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 3 . COSPAR: 1957-Beta-1. Apogee: 1,660 km (1,030 mi). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Inclination: 65.30 deg. Period: 103.70 min.

  Carried dog Laika. Study of the physical processes and conditions of life in outer space. After the surprise public impact of Sputnik 1, the satellite and launch teams were called back from vacation and in one month assembled the satellite (using equipment already developed for dog sounding rocket flights). After the launch, Soviet space officials said that the spacecraft would not return and that the dog had enough food and oxygen to live for up to 10 days. Only 45 years later was it revealed that Laika overheated, panicked and died within 5 to 7 hours of launch. What turned out to be the first space crypt remained in orbit a total of 162 days, then burned up in the atmosphere on April 14, 1958.