/sci/ - Science & Math

>>10501506
I think you're reading more into this than is warranted. It's just trying to show the scale of the two satellites. I thought that was interesting, mildly, and since this is an image board I like to include a somewhat-related image with a post.

The Soviet boosters at that time were WAY more powerful than anything the US had, so putting heavier payloads into orbit gave them an advantage at that time. Compare the mass of Vostok with the mass of Mercury as another example.

My interest in the history of the "golden age" of space flight is not bond up in fanboi-ing for either side.

>>10501506
>98 foot long and 10 foot wide core stage that was also placed into orbit during the launch.

Yeah, I always wondered why that was not considered a two-way tie for placing a satellite in orbit.

It always amused me to read about people around the world going outside just after sunset to try and catch a glimpse of the Sputnik. When they were able to see anything, what they saw was the booster.