Thursday: History
What was the name of the first artificial satellite launched into space in 1957?
Hint: The Soviet Union launched this satellite on October 4, 1957.
Sputnik was the world’s first artificial satellite.
Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, was the world’s first artificial satellite, marking the beginning of the Space Age.
This basketball-sized satellite, equipped with four external radio antennas, transmitted radio pulses that could be detected on Earth. Sputnik's successful launch not only showcased Soviet technological prowess but also intensified the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Its orbit around Earth lasted for 21 days before its batteries died, and it eventually burned up upon reentry in January 1958. Sputnik remains a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration.
