The year 1960 in science and technology involved some significant events, listed below.

Physics

• Theodore Maiman demonstrates the first working laser, a ruby laser, at Hughes Research Laboratories.

Astronomy and space exploration

• May 15 - Sputnik 4 is launched into Earth orbit.
• August 19 - Sputnik program: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 5 with the dogs Belka and Strelka, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. The spacecraft will return to earth the next day and all animals will be recovered safely.

Meteorology

• April 1 - The United States launches the first weather satellite, TIROS-1.

Births

Deaths

• May 8 - J. H. C. Whitehead (b. 1904), British mathematician.

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