Sputnik I and Sputnik II provided D)information about Earth's atmosphere. Sputnik 1 measured the density of the upper atmosphere and looked at the Earth's ionosphere, while Sputnik II was used to transmit data to Earth for a fifteen minute period during each orbit and measured solar radiation. Both of the launch of these two space capsules started the Sputnik crisis which was also part of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, who were both competing against each other to make the best technological and space advances.