1896/7 Telephone Exchanges1901 Wireless Telegraphy 1946 The Computer1956 Communications Satellites 2000? Mobile Phones2000? The Internet Communciations Satellites - 1956 Russia launches a Moon Satellite launches have become commonplace Soviet scientists claim lead in race into space. Russia last night claimed to have launched the world's first space satellite. It is now circling the earth at five miles a second. A Moscow communiquè just before midnight said the satellite, a 23in sphere packed with recording and radio instruments, is describing an elliptical course about 560 miles up. It can be seen "in the rays of the rising and setting sun with the aid of binoculars and spy glasses" and its radio signals were picked up in London early today. Thus Russia has won the race to launch an artificial "moon" - probably months ahead of the Americans. The news was released as the Russian Embassy in Washington was giving a cocktail party to rocket and space experts. American scientists were astonished. They are preparing to send up satellites as part of the International Geophysical Year, but their first moon will not be ready for launching until next spring. The 16,000 mph Red moon weighs 184lb and circles the earth in one hour and 35 minutes. Its steel radio transmitters continuously emit signals on 7.5 and 15 metres and on short waves. Amateurs can easily pick up the signals - each lasts 0.3 seconds. Moscow gave the news in an English broadcast. "For several years research and experimental design work has been under way to create artificial satellites of the earth. As a result of the intensive work by research institutes and designing bureaux, the first artificial satellite in the world has now been created. It was successfully launched today." The satellites will pave the way to inter-planetary travel, said the communiquè. "People of our generation will live to see humanity's oldest dream turn into reality." The Kremlin has offered a gold medal to the first scientist to get to the moon. Four more Russian moons will be sent up before the Americans launch their first.