
Sputnik | Satellites, History, & Facts | Britannica
Nov 24, 2025 · Sputnik, a series of three Soviet artificial satellites. Sputnik 1 (launched October 4, 1957) was the first artificial satellite and the beginning of the ‘space race’ between the U.S. and the Soviet …
Sputnik 1 - Wikipedia
Sputnik 1 (/ ˈspʌtnɪk, ˈspʊtnɪk /, Russian: Спутник-1, Satellite 1), often referred to as simply Sputnik, was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet …
Dawn of the Space Age - NASA
Dec 4, 2025 · The historic Sputnik launch on Oct. 4, 1957 marked the beginning of the space age, leading to the establishment of NASA as well as the U.S.–Soviet space race.
Sputnik and the Space Race: 1957 and Beyond - Library of Congress
Jul 10, 2019 · The world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, marking the start of the space race. This guide provides suggested research materials on this topic …
The story of Sputnik: how one soviet satellite changed ... - History Skills
Sputnik 1 consisted of a polished sphere with four antennas and a simple transmitter. It carried no propulsion system or guidance mechanism, as its role was symbolic and strategic. It needed to orbit …
Sputnik launched | October 4, 1957 | HISTORY
Nov 24, 2009 · Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more. The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik, …
Sputnik: Space Race and the Launch of the World ... - History …
Sep 14, 2016 · Sputnik was the world’s first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. Launched on October 4, 1957, by the Soviet Union, Sputnik marked the beginning of the space age and the space race …
USSR Launches Sputnik - Education
On October 4, 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. The satellite, an 85-kilogram (187-pound) metal sphere the size of a basketball, was launched on a huge rocket …
Sputnik – Definition & Detailed Explanation - Sentinel Mission
Sep 22, 2025 · Sputnik, which means “satellite” in Russian, was the world’s first artificial satellite. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Sputnik marked the beginning of the space age …
Sputnik and the Space Age - National Air and Space Museum
Oct 3, 2017 · Sputnik, the world’s first human-made satellite of the Earth, was launched on October 4, 1957, marking the beginning of the Space Age and the modern world in which we live today.