On the Cover: In this issue, StarDate celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first manmade satellite to orbit Earth. The Soviets launched Sputnik 1 in October 1957. This 1971 United Arab Emirates stamp celebrates Sputnik 2, when the USSR launched a dog named Laika into orbit. Write for StarDate Magazine Writer's Guidelines (84K pdf -- free Adobe Acrobat software is required to view the document.)

The 'Beep-Beep' Heard ’Round the World
Fifty years ago this October 7, the Soviet Union’s launch of a tiny satellite -- resembling nothing so much as a silver basketball with legs -- rocked America. This was Sputnik, and it changed the course of history.

How's the Weather Up There?
Space tourism is a growing industry. But if you’re planning to visit other planets and moons in our solar system in the future, you’d better check the forecast. You may be in for a surprise.

In Future Issues
In our November/December issue, visit Earthly locales that mimic solar system destinations NASA plans to explore. Richard Lovett explores spots similar to various Martian terrains, and Marc Airhart takes us to the bottom of a deep sinkhole in Mexico where engineers are testing a cave-diving robot to learn how best to the underwater world of Jupiter’s giant moon Europa — a possible home for life in the solar system.

Read archived news from StarDate magazine in the Resources section.

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