Manitowoc is making note this weekend of an unusual link to the space race. Manitowoc celebrates Sputnikfest today, marking the 46th anniversary of a piece of the Russian satellite Sputnik Four crashing into the middle of North Eighth Street in the city. Barb Bundy-Jost is with Manitwoc's Rahr-West Art Museum . She says the piece of cosmic debris made a three inch hole in the middle of the street, in front of the Rahr-West mansion. "I guess the reason to celebrate is that it didn't kill anybody," Bundy-Jost says.
The U.S. government kept six pounds of the space debris for testing, while the rest was returned to Russia. A replica of the satellite is on display at the museum. Manitowoc's first-ever Sputnikfest includes a Russian art exhibit, cars from the era, and even an outdoor showing of the movie Apollo 13 .
