Tech: Sputnik

Subject: Tech: Sputnik
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 10:24 PM

Sputnik was probably the greatest "life altering" event in my lifetime.

The anniversy is this week.

Two beeps every 90 minutes - the first satelite radio transmissions.

Berated by teachers for being the "generation that lost the space race" we, wide-eyed and bewildered accepted our failure and dutifully stood the place of "wipping-boys" for our teachers.

Three years later, I built my first computer, three transistors per unit, binary with a rotary-telephone-dial for input.

Digital Trad would have lagged without a shove on the butt from the Soviets.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

It changed my life - in undoubtably changed yours.

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 10:31 PM

Oh, it DID...it took all the funding from social sciences and put it into space and moon races and weapons.

Pooh!

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 11:14 PM

Talk of the Nation-Science Friday had a neat program about it. You may listen to it HERE.

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Oct 07 - 11:36 PM

Actually, it began a surge in interest for K-12 education, but that subsided after the moon landing. It would be helpful for the country to get back to thinking about K-12.

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 02:04 AM

50th Anniversary: The Truth About Sputnik

"Forget the hype. The '57 launch wasn't such a big shock."
By Sharon Begley
Newsweek

I'll leave it to those interested to read the article. Some may agree, but it ain't the way we remember it.

Could the politicians and press have propogandized things? Surely not!
Maybe the new generation of politicians and press just need a different spin?

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 04:38 AM

Another article:

Space-age secrets revealed 50 years later

"Russians tell the real story behind spur-of-the-moment Sputnik"

By Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press, Updated: 2:28 p.m. CT Oct 1, 2007

A rather lengthy article, purporting to give the memories of the Sputnik launch, by the head (Russian) guy responsible.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 05:51 AM

Mr. John - you read the Newsweek article and comment, " it ain't the way we remember it."

The writer own words note exactly how my community received the news, SHOCK, SURPRISED PUBLIC, PANIC.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 09:01 AM

My own feelings were "We were supposed to launch Vanguard! How DARE the Russians be so rude as to launch first?!"

Of course, Vanguard blew up on the launch pad, and the US turned from the Navy to the Army to launch the first US satellite.

It's about time the US got another such shock and started putting REAL money into REAL education and R&D. The National Defense Student Loan Program for college students far surpassed anything available today.

Subject: RE: Tech: Sputnik
From: GUEST,Rose
Date: 03 Oct 07 - 09:26 AM

Catch a falling sputnik
Put it in a matchbox
Send it to the USA