In addition to small radio signals, Sputinik-1 also carried out important studies of the properties of the atmosphere, the effects of microgravity and solar radiation, which paved the way for the first flight of a living being off the planet (the dog Laika, in 1957), and the first manned mission (Yuri Gagarin, in 1961) — undoubtedly the first major media achievement of the space race efforts.