November 3: Sputnik 2 (1957)

A Dog in Space, John Lennon's new album, Godzilla Hits Theaters, Birthdays & More

November 03, 2023

Good morning and welcome to Today In History. Explore the past to understand the present, one day at a time.

Read time ~4 min

  • First Dog in Space

  • Music History

  • U.S. Presidents

  • Just For Fun

  • Birthdays & Deaths

Sputnik 2 (1957)

Laika getting ready to travel to space in the Sputnik 2 (1957)

Setting The Scene

Today we’re turning back the clock by 66 years. While only a few decades ago, the world was a much different place. 12 years have past since the end of WW2, and western economies are thriving thanks to manufacturing and technological advancements. Televisions and telephones are becoming more commonplace, and the nuclear family is the norm.

Zooming out a bit, the Cold War is at its peak. The United States and the Soviet Union are battling to be the dominant force geopolitically, ideologically, and economically. Both countries see the Space Race as a symbol of their political system’s superiority in technological advancement. Would a democratic country or a communist country be able to get to space first?

What Happened?

A month ago, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite into space, called Sputnik 1. Now today, on November 3rd, they unveil the seemingly impossible, launching a dog named Laika into space to orbit Earth. The entire world watched in awe as the Soviets displayed their never-before-seen capabilities.

Impact

While the story does not end well for Laika, this trip provided valuable data for scientists to study the effects of space travel on living organisms. This laid the groundwork to allow humans to safely launch into space.

This event also started some incredible advancements for our society. We built satellite communications, weather forecasting, and GPS during the space race. A new generation of scientists, astronauts, and explorers were inspired to push the boundaries of what humans are capable of. We have since built an international space station flying at miles 17,500 miles per hour around the globe, took our first step on the moon, and maybe one day we can all take a trip to mars.

What else happened?

Music

John Lennon outside his home on Menlove Ave (Liverpool, early 1950s)

  • “Menlove Ave.” the album by John Lennon is released posthumously. (1986)

  • Rock band Rage Against the Machine debuts first album. (1992)

  • Olivia Newton-John’s leather jacket from Grease sells at auction for $405,700, the buyer returning it Newton-John after. (2019)

U.S. Presidents

1868 political campaign banner

  • Ulysses S. Grant wins the presidential election, securing his place as the 18th U.S. President. (1868)

  • Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected for his second term as the 32nd U.S. President over Alf Landon, the most lopsided election in American history. (1936)

  • Lyndon B. Johnson is elected as the 36th U.S. President. (1964)

Just For Fun

Movie poster for Godzilla (1954)

  • Godzilla hits theaters. (1954)

  • The Wizard of Oz airs on television for the first time, gathering an audience of approximately 45 million viewers. (1956)

  • One World Trade Center opens in New York City where the twin towers once stood. Commonly called the “Freedom Tower”, this building stands at 1,776 feet, making it the tallest building in the United States.(2014)

Birthdays

Deaths