star thought to be sputnik stops a few seconds and then leaves in a 90 degree turn from the point it came

I didnt accually see this my self my fater told me about it some time ago.All i could really say is that he said after russia launched sputnik he and his troop that were stationed in Korea at the time were waiting for it to come across the sky as they were told it would and that they might see it.He told me that at a certain time a star was coming across the sky that they thought was sputnik, but it then stopped and sat there a few seconds, then started moving again in a different direction till it was not in sight anymore.He said if you drew a line it would have made a 90 degree turn when it began to move from its stopped position.
Date is approximate.  PD