Cartoons about Sputnik, Launched 60 Years Ago #SaturdayMorningCartoons
On October 4th, 1957, in the heart of the Cold War, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite Sputnik 1 into an elliptical low orbit. For folks in the United States at the time, it was terrifying. The Soviets could be observing our most intimate secrets, or weaponizing space, or finding alliances with powerful extraterrestrial races.
“The launch of Sputnik 1 had a ‘Pearl Harbor’ effect on American public opinion,” the nasa historian Roger Launius has written. “It was a shock, introducing the average citizen to the space age in a crisis setting.”
And it was announced, in at least one instance, by a cartoon:
Anxiety surrounding Sputnik led to some other odd cultural responses, including this cartoon from Mel-O-Toons about Omnicron, Nudnicron, and Sputnik:
Each Saturday Morning here at Adafruit is Saturday Morning Cartoons! Be sure to check our cartoon and animated posts both nostalgic and new that inspire makers of all ages! You’ll find how-tos for young makers, approaches to learning about science and engineering, and all sorts of comic strip and animated Saturday Morning fun! Be sure to check out our Adafruit products featuring comic book art while you’re at it!
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Each Saturday Morning here at Adafruit is Saturday Morning Cartoons! Be sure to check our cartoon and animated posts both nostalgic and new that inspire makers of all ages! You’ll find how-tos for young makers, approaches to learning about science and engineering, and all sorts of comic strip and animated Saturday Morning fun! Be sure to check out our Adafruit products featuring comic book art while you’re at it!
‘The New York Times: “Is America Facing Another Sputnik Moment”’
Um… that was actually the New Yorker.