The launches of Sputnik 1 and 2 by the Soviet Union in October and November 1957, respectively, and the implied Soviet superiority in missile technology, galvanized the United States.

Sputnik and the Dawn of the Space Age. History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm.or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit Earth on its elliptical path.

The EU sanctions provide exceptions for media outlets reporting on RT and Sputnik, the email says, adding that companies must draw a line between content from the state-owned outlets and users.