Today a new moon is in the sky: a 23-inch metal sphere placed in orbit by a Russian rocket. Here an artist's conception of how the feat was accomplished - a three-stage rocket. Number one, the booster in the class of an intercontinental missile; its weight estimated at 50 tons. A smaller second-stage took over at 5,000 miles-an-hour and carried on to the highest point reached. Five hundred miles up, the artificial moon is boosted to a speed counterbalancing the pull of gravity and released. Iron head, iron spears Spread out from sides away Shiny globe without fears Flies over skies again Soviet star first of all Was in the boundless space But what if it's sign of call The first assigned phrase? Sputnik, Sputnik The signal from the other ones Sputnik, Sputnik They hadn't any red stars Sputnik, Sputnik The greetings from above Sputnik, Sputnik Alien tapering throw Iron blades, iron grim They're now awaiting us Shining alien warrior trim Or maybe they're amidst us Poor primates, prepare to lay They need our planet's air For thousand years you'll be a clay For those years here's their lair Sputnik, Sputnik The signal from the other ones Sputnik, Sputnik They hadn't any red stars Sputnik, Sputnik The greetings from above Sputnik, Sputnik Alien tapering throw Earth people, look upside and you'll see They are here