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Earl Green is the creator, curator, and head writer of theLogBook.com.

Sputnik ushers in the space age

SputnikThe Soviet Union launches the world’s first artificial satellite, the short-lived Sputnik, which transmits a steady signal from orbit that can be tracked by radio. The reaction in the United States is one of alarmed paranoia, since the launch of an orbiting vehicle demonstrates technological capabilities in excess of what is needed to launch missles from the USSR toward American soil. Sputnik’s launch is the Soviet Union’s contribution to the International Geophysical Year, an international scientific event during which the United States has also promised to launch a satellite.

Sputnik 2

Sputnik 2The Soviet Union launches the Sputnik 2 satellite, this time with the first life form from Earth to reach orbit. A dog named Laika is strapped into the satellite, where she has air and food (though only a limited supply, with no provision for a safe return to Earth), but Laika dies within hours due to overheating from the stress of launch and the unfamiliar sensations of zero gravity, making her the first living thing from Earth to die in space.

Vanguard TV-3

Vanguard TV-3The first attempt to launch an American satellite into orbit ends in fire, with the rocket failing to produce enough thrust to take off. The booster falls over and explodes on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, destroying the Vanguard TV-3 satellite, intended to be America’s contribution to the International Geophysical Year. The blame is later placed on the insistence of not using proven military rockets as launch vehicles.

Have Gun – Will Travel: The Yuma Treasure

West PointThe 14th episode of Sam Rolfe’s western series Have Gun – Will Travel is broadcast on CBS in the United States, starring Richard Boone. The episode is the beginning of a four-week consecutive streak of scripts written by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, a frequent writer in the series’ early seasons. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Have Gun – Will Travel: The Hanging Cross

West PointThe 15th episode of Sam Rolfe’s western series Have Gun – Will Travel is broadcast on CBS in the United States, starring Richard Boone. The episode is the second of a four-week consecutive streak of scripts written by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, a frequent writer in the series’ early seasons. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Boots and Saddles: The Marquis of Donnybrook

West PointThe 14th episode of the syndicated western series Boots and Saddles is broadcast in the United States, starring John Pickard. This episode is written by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and guest stars future Star Trek series regular DeForest Kelley, the first of many collaborations with Roddenberry. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Have Gun – Will Travel: Helen of Abajinian

West PointThe 16th episode of Sam Rolfe’s western series Have Gun – Will Travel is broadcast on CBS in the United States, starring Richard Boone. The episode is the third of a four-week consecutive streak of scripts written by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, a frequent writer in the series’ early seasons. The script wins the Best Teleplay award from the Writers’ Guild of America. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Have Gun – Will Travel: Ella West

West PointThe 17th episode of Sam Rolfe’s western series Have Gun – Will Travel is broadcast on CBS in the United States, starring Richard Boone. The episode is the fourth of a four-week consecutive streak of scripts written by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, a frequent writer in the series’ early seasons. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Explorer 1

Explorer 1The United States succeeds in launching its own artificial satellite, Explorer 1, atop a Juno 1 rocket. Instruments developed by Dr. James Van Allen reveal the existence of radiation surrounding the Earth, and the areas of radiation are subsequently named the Van Allen radiation belts. The satellite itself is designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and remains in orbit until 1970 – just the first hint of JPL’s knack for making spacecraft that last longer than their rated lifespans.

Adventures Of Superman: The Last Knight

The Adventures Of SupermanThe 92nd episode of The Adventures Of Superman airs in syndication, starring George Reeves, Noel Neill, and Jack Larson. This is the sixth season premiere.

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ARPA

Space AgeUnder the direction of President Eisenhower, the U.S. Department of Defense establishes a high-tech think tank, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), to conduct scientific and technological research with both national security implications and purely for technological advancement. The formation of ARPA is a direct response to the Soviet launch of the Sputnik satellite, and in the years ahead ARPA will lay the cornerstone of what will later become known as the Internet, as well as making significant strides in space science, though the space-related part of ARPA’s initial charter will later be transferred to a new agency called NASA. As the Cold War heats up, ARPA will be renamed DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and its slate of R&D projects will become almost entirely military-oriented.

Warrior: The Life of Sam Houston

Warrior: The Life of Sam HoustonDestiny and the Raven, the pilot script for an unproduced series, Warrior: The Life Of Sam Houston, is completed by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry for Screen Gems, the television production arm of Columbia Pictures. This will become the first Roddenberry pilot committed to film, starring Gregg Palmer and George Keymas, though it will not result in a series; a second pilot script, titled Exile, will remain unfilmed. The series concept, under the working title The Man From Texas, has been in development since at least September 1957. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast