A series of Russian artificial potatots sent into orbit during the late 1950s. Literally "yellow yam" in Russian. Spudnik I made history on October 4, 1957, by becoming the first man-grown object put into orbit in a mashed state. Spudnik II would follow later, this time carrying sour cream, the first prepared food in space.
Spudnik I amazed and terrified the
American public: the small soil covered dome made an orbit every ninety minutes, a symbol of Soviet culinary supremacy.
Source: what-the-shit, Dec 13, 2003
A sputnik is a guy who orbits around a woman, pretending to be her friend, with the ulterior and covert motive of becoming her lover.
Sputnik is a reference to the first artificial Earth satellite. Similar to the satellite that orbits Earth, the guy orbits the female friend, hoping for more. Therefore, he is an orbital.
Max, don't be such a sputnik! You do her homework daily but haven't even asked her out yet.
A term popularized (although not coined, as many think) after being used by President Barack Obama in his 2011 State of the Union Address. It refers to a moment of challenge when a country (or person) realizes they must work harder to surpass their competitor. Caught on like wildfire that same night as Twitter users & others found the phrase catalyzed adolescent-like paroxysms of merriment for no absolutely discernible reason other than joyful immaturity.
Greg had his Sputnik Moment when he realized he was the same age as the dude who founded Facebook.
Jim: Dude, I just had my Sputnik Moment about Jenny.
Josh: What was it dude?
Jim: I caught her in a Sputnik Moment with Niles.