Both Sides of the “Moon”

NOT since the Middle Ages have men scanned the sky so eagerly for portents. The successful launching of the world's first artificial satellite is enough to stretch anyone's imagination. Some of this week's zestful speculations—and some of the more cautious appraisals too—will no doubt be proved false in time; but there are certain things that can and should be said now. A milestone in human history has been passed. True, the launching of satellites was already listed, almost prosaically, among the projects of the International Geophysical Year. But the impact of the event, now it has happened, is still impressive. The Russian scientists deserve all the congratulations showered upon them.