⏰ when
When Was the First Artificial Satellite Launched?
spacehistory
Quick Answer
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957.
The Full Story
On 4 October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, a 58 cm diameter polished metal sphere weighing about 83.6 kg, into low Earth orbit. Its radio signal — a simple "beep-beep" — could be picked up by amateur radio operators worldwide. The launch shocked the West and ignited the Space Race between the US and USSR. Today over 10,000 active satellites orbit Earth, providing communications, navigation, weather monitoring, and scientific data.
Key Facts
1.Sputnik orbited Earth in about 96 minutes.
2.Its batteries lasted only about 21 days before the signal went silent.
3.The US launched its first satellite, Explorer 1, on 31 January 1958.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Sputnik — The Beep That Started the Space Age"