Selected Documents
Artificial satellite conceptual design document by Sergey Korolev (transcribed), September 25, 1956: PDF
Proposal to launch satellites before the start of the IGY by Sergey Korolev (transcribed), January 5, 1957: PDF
“On the Observation of the Arificial Satellite” by A. A. Mikhailov (translation), written prior to Sputnik launch, 1957: PDF
Memorandum from CIA Director Allen Dulles to Deputy Secretary of Defense Donald Quarles regarding potential Soviet satellite launches, July 5, 1957: PDF
Draft paper by V. A. Kotelnikov for USRI conference, August 27, 1957: PDF
Department of the Navy memorandum on official statements regarding the Sputnik launch, October 5, 1957: PDF
Memorandum from outgoing Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson to President Eisenhower regarding Sputnik, October 7, 1957: PDF
Memorandum of conference with President Eisenhower on October 8, 1957: PDF
Memorandum of President Eisenhower’s conference with Dr. Detlev Bronk, National Academy of Sciences, October 8, 1957: PDF
Transcript of news conference by President Eisenhower on October 9, 1957: PDF
Responses to Sputnik launch from members of the U.S. National Committee on the International Geophysical Year, October 9, 1957: PDF
Memorandum from National Security Council meeting on October 10, 1957 (transcription): PDF
Memorandum from conference with President Eisenhower on October 15, 1957, regarding government scientific activities and research in the wake of Sputnik: PDF
Memorandum to Senator Lyndon Johnson regarding using the fear of the Soviets and Sputnik to gain political advantage for LBJ and the Democrats, October 17, 1957: PDF
U.S. Information Agency research and intelligence report on world reaction to the Sputnik launch, October 17, 1957: PDF
Letter of support from Reverend Billy Graham to President Eisenhower in the wake of the first two Sputnik launches, December 2, 1957; includes Eisenhower’s response, December 6, 1957: PDF
Memorandum from National Security Council meeting on December 5, 1957, regarding the launch of U.S. satellites; shows the concern of competing with the Soviets and two Sputnik launches (transcription): PDF
“Fall of the Sputnik I Rocket” by R. Jastrow and I. Harris of the Naval Research Laboratory, 1958: PDF
NASA Historical Note 21, “Statements of Prominent Americans on the Opening of the Space Age: A Chronology of Select Statements, October 4, 1957 to November 13, 1958,” compiled by Lynne L. Daniels and issued July 15, 1963: PDF
