1957. In October, the Soviet Union launched the first space satellite, Sputnik I. It was followed in November by the spacecraft Sputnik 2, which carried Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth. In ...

GAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 6--The Vanguard test rocket--with U.S. hopes for some recaptured prestige aboard--barely struggled off the ground today, then fell back and exploded. Although there are ...