ABOUT SPUTNIK 1
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. The 58 cm polished metal sphere transmitted radio beeps for 21 days and orbited for three months before reentering the atmosphere. Its launch shocked the West and triggered the Space Race.
NOTABLE MISSIONS
| 🚀 First orbit of Earth by an artificial object |
LEGACY & LASTING IMPACT
First artificial satellite, triggered the Space Race and creation of NASA
PROGRAM DETAILS
| Category | Mission |
| Era | Space Race |
| Agency | OKB-1 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Start Date | 1957-10-04 |
| End Date | 1958-01-04 |
| Total Flights | 1 |
| Success Rate | 100% |
| Successor | Sputnik 2 |
PROGRAM COST
| Original Cost | Classified |
| Inflation-Adjusted | Unknown |
KEY FIGURES
TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED
🏢 RELATED AGENCIES
