sputnik

/ˈspʊtnɪk/
noun
  1. Any of a series of artificial satellites launched by the Soviet Union, especially the first one (Sputnik 1) launched in 1957.
    • Many people remember the beeping signal of Sputnik from their radios.
    • The launch of Sputnik started the space race between the US and the Soviet Union.
    • Sputnik was the first human-made object to orbit Earth.
  2. A satellite or spacecraft, especially one from the former Soviet space program.
    • Scientists studied data from Sputnik to learn about the upper atmosphere.
    • The museum has a model of a Sputnik satellite on display.
    • The word 'sputnik' means 'traveling companion' in Russian.
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