The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik,
the world’s first artificial satellite. The spacecraft, named Sputnik after the
Russian word for “satellite,” was launched at 10:29 p.m. Moscow time from
the Tyuratam launch base in the Kazakh Republic. Sputnik had a diameter
of 22 inches and weighed 184 pounds and circled Earth once every hour
and 36 minutes. Traveling at 18,000 miles an hour, its elliptical orbit had an
apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 584 miles and a perigee (nearest point)
of 143 miles. Visible with binoculars before sunrise or after sunset, Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by
amateur radio operators. Those in the United States with access to such
equipment tuned in and listened in awe as the beeping Soviet spacecraft
passed over America several times a day. In January 1958, Sputnik’s orbit deteriorated, as expected, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

Musician and actor Sting (Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner) is 68 years
old today. He was the principal songwriter, lead singer, and bassist for
the new wave  rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984, and launched a
solo career in 1985. He has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae,
classical, new-age and worldbeat in his music.

First meeting of the United States Supreme Court, Feb. 1790.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 is passed by Congress and signed by President
George Washington, establishing the Supreme Court of the United States
as a tribunal made up of six justices who were to serve on the court until
death or retirement. That day, President Washington nominated John Jay
to preside as chief justice, and John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair,
Robert Harrison, and James Wilson to be associate justices. On September
26, all six appointments were confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

John Jay (December 23, 1745 – May 17, 1829)

FIRST Chief Justice of the United States
In office September 26, 1789 – June 29, 1795

   
    
    
    
    
   
The Old Royal Exchange, in New York City, where the first
meeting of the Court was held in February 1790, though
with no cases to hear.

ED DANAHUE

      
The sitcom originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show is remembered for its realistic and complex
characters and storylines, in contrast to the simplistic characters and plots typically seen on broadcast television at that time. It was the subject of
consistent critical praise and high ratings during its original run, receiving
twenty-nine Prim Awards,etime Emmy including for Outstanding Comedy
Series three years in a row (1975–1977); Moore received the Primetime
Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series three
times. The series also launched three spin-offs: Rhoda (1974–1978),
Phyllis (1975–1977), and Lou Grant (1977–1982). In 2013, the Writer as
Guild of Americ ranked The Mary Tyler Moore Show #6 on its list of the
"101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.

The King of Rock and Roll teamed up with TV’s reigning variety program, as
Elvis Presley appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time.

After earning big ratings for “The Steve Allen Show,” the Dorsey Brothers
“Stage Show” and “The Milton Berle Show,” Sullivan finally reneged on his
Presley ban, signing the controversial singing star to an unprecedented
$50,000 contract for three appearances.

With 60 million viewers—or 82.6 percent of TV viewers at the time—tuning in,
the appearance garnered the show’s best ratings in two years and became
the most-watched TV broadcast of the 1950s.