Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sputnik [audio 51min]

Where were you when Sputnik launched? There was instant global awe for the Soviet satellite, just under 2 feet in diameter, which circled the earth every 96 minutes. It was the beginning of the space age, but it wasn’t just a technological marvel: it had a lasting impact on American culture, language, and design. Richard Paul looks into why Sputnik has never really left our orbit. Russian émigrés in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach conjure up their memories from 50 years ago. Filmmaker David Hoffman discusses his documentary Sputnik Mania, which reflects on his passion for space. And writer John Haskell has a tribute, part fact and part fiction, to the first canine cosmonaut, Laika.