Etymology From Russian спу́тник (spútnik, “satellite”, literally “fellow traveller”), from с- (s-, “with, together”) + пу́тник (pútnik, “traveller”), from путь (putʹ, “way, journey”) + agent suffix -ник (-nik).
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Historical Any of a series of Soviet robotic space satellites, especially the first one in 1957.
Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we would beat them to the moon. The science wasn't even there yet. NASA didn't exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. This is our generation's Sputnik moment. Two years ago, I said that we needed to reach a level of research and development we haven't seen since the height of the Space Race. And in a few weeks, I will be sending a budget to Congress that helps us meet that goal.2011 January 5, Barack Obama; Jon Favreau, speechwriter, “Remarks by the President in State of Union Address”, in White House Office of the Press Secretary, WhiteHouse.gov, archived from the original on 06 May 2016:
BEFORE school rocketed into his tiny world with about as much warning as a sputnik, my son knew only little hates.1957 November 14, Sputnik [pseudonym], “My Son Hates School”, in Daily Record, number 19,357, Glasgow: Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2, column 2:
With this program, we could bring water to the Middle East. We could rebuild some of our sagging esteem in that part of the world; we could insure that in this area at least we would have our sputniks abreast the Russians', and we could do our own economy a priceless good turn.1958, Clinton P. Anderson, statement on the Senate floor, quoted in, Legislative history: Saline water conversion act, page 783
3 more examples
This is but one of the facts which should demonstrate to those who would build British sputniks that such extravagances will be a disservice to the whole country until the supply of scientists has been multiplied many times.1958 October 23, Gemnius, "It seems to me", New Scientist, page 1120
Of course, long before this reliable systems of meteorological sputniks, world-wide television sputniks, navigation sputniks, etc., will be created.1965, The Contemporary:
In Britain, before we had the news of the launching of the Russian and just now the American sputniks, we learned the news that American planes carrying H-bombs, which they could deliver on Russia at very short notice, are continuously in the air.1971, Shenandoah, volumes 9-10, page 4:
Etymology See sputnik. The vaccine sense is an ellipsis of Sputnik V, from Russian Спутник V (Sputnik V), a trade name given after Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite.
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An adenovirus viral vector vaccine for COVID-19, developed in Russia.
For the record, Stone has been quadruple-vaxxed against covid-19: “Two Sputniks and two Pfizers,” he says proudly.2021 December 22, Ann Hornaday, “‘JFK’ at 30: Oliver Stone and the lasting impact of America’s most dangerous movie”, in The Washington Post: