The nose of the rocket used to launch Sputnik I should come down to earth some time this weekend, possibly blazing like a meteor, Fred L. Whipple, Director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical ...

Like the Sputnik-1 that flew into orbit on October 4, 1957, the test replica is a polished aluminum sphere 23 in (58 cm) in diameter with four spring-mounted external whip antennas.