The first orbital launch

• Korolev (OKB-1) R-7 missile, product 8K71

• May 1957 launch failure, Aug 1957 first ICBM

• Plan to uprate engines: the 8A91 rocket for orbital launches, slipped to 1958 (Sputnik 3), related to 8K74 operational ICBM

• Quick and dirty version to preempt Vanguard: the 8K71PS, minimal mods to prototype ICBM version

• PS-1 (Oct 1957) “Simplest satellite”

• PS-2 (Nov 1957) carried dog Laika