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When was the first artificial satellite launched into orbit?
SpaceFirsts
Quick Answer
Sputnik 1 was launched on 4 October 1957 by the Soviet Union. It was the first human-made object to orbit Earth.
The Full Story
Sputnik 1 lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 4 October 1957 aboard an R-7 rocket. The 83.6-kilogram satellite transmitted simple radio beeps for about three weeks before its batteries failed, and it remained in orbit until January 1958. Its launch marked the start of the Space Age and triggered the U.S.-Soviet space race. The event also led to major investment in science education, rocketry, and satellite technology around the world.
Key Facts
1.Launched: 4 October 1957
2.Mass: 83.6 kg
3.Orbit decay: January 1958
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The day humanity truly reached space began with a beeping metal sphere."