| Written by BBC News, on 04-10-2007 10:37 |
Russia is holding a series of ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the space age.
In 1957 the first man-made satellite, Sputnik, was launched by what was then the Soviet Union.
The launch is considered one of the most significant moments in history and began the space race with the US, which eventually sent men to the Moon.
After years of decline the Russians are now back in the space game with highly ambitious plans.
'Expanding habitat'
The launch of Sputnik was a giant leap for mankind and a propaganda coup for the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War.
As people around the world stared up in awe at the night sky to catch a glimpse of the tiny satellite, there was a realisation that something very fundamental had changed.
Last Updated: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 01:05 GMT 02:05 UK
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Russia marks 50 years of Sputnik
By Richard Galpin
BBC News, Moscow
Sputnik satellite, pre-launch, resting on support frame
Sputnik's launch began the superpower space race
Sputnik's launch
Sputnik engineer
Russia is holding a series of ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of the start of the space age.
In 1957 the first man-made satellite, Sputnik, was launched by what was then the Soviet Union.
The launch is considered one of the most significant moments in history and began the space race with the US, which eventually sent men to the Moon.
After years of decline the Russians are now back in the space game with highly ambitious plans.
'Expanding habitat'
The launch of Sputnik was a giant leap for mankind and a propaganda coup for the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War.
As people around the world stared up in awe at the night sky to catch a glimpse of the tiny satellite, there was a realisation that something very fundamental had changed.
"The launch of Sputnik was at least as significant for mankind as the discovery of America for Columbus," said Yuri Karash, an expert on the Russian space programme.
"By launching Sputnik people started expanding their habitat beyond Earth."
After Sputnik there was a string of successes in space for the Soviet Union, driven by the intense rivalry with the United States.
These included sending the first man into space, Yuri Gagarin, and carrying out the first spacewalk.
Now, after a long period of decline in the Russian space programme, the country's scientists and cosmonauts have finally secured a significant budget from the government.
They have been given $12bn (£6bn) to spend over the next decade - a small amount compared with Nasa's budget but enough for the Russians to have ambitious plans.
These include sending a manned mission to Mars. One expert told the BBC this could happen by the year 2020. Courtesy: BBC News
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