Was sputnik the launch of the Space Race
Two versions of the Sputnik were built , the Sputnik - PS ( GRAU index 8K71PS ) , which was used to launch " Sputnik 1 " and later " Sputnik 2 " , and the Sputnik ( 8A91 ) , which failed to launch a satellite in April 1958 , and subsequently launched " Sputnik 3 " on 15 May 1958 .