In a year when we have celebrated all things to do with space exploration, it’s worth noting that tomorrow is the anniversary of the event that really got things going.

Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957 by the Soviet Union, taking the space race from concept to reality.

By current standards, it is a pathetic piece of kit. The metal sphere with trailing antennae weighed 83.6kg, roughly Brian O’Driscoll’s weight in his playing days,...