Sputnik 1
The first artificial satellite.
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957. It was a polished metal sphere 58 cm across with four radio antennas, and it transmitted for three weeks until its batteries ran down. It fell back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958.
Its launch set off the Sputnik crisis in the United States and the start of the Space Race.
Quick Facts
- Mission type
- Technology demonstration
- Operator
- OKB-1
- Orbits completed
- 1,440
- Spacecraft
- Sputnik-1
- Manufacturer
- OKB-1; Ministry of Radiotechnical Industry
- Launch mass
- 83.6 kg / 184 lb
- Dimensions
- 58 cm (1 ft 11 in) diameter
- Power
- 1 watt
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