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Sputnik 1

Also known as Object PS, PS-1, Satellite-1, Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1, Elementary Satellite 1, Prosteishiy Sputnik

first artificial Earth satellite

AI overview

Sputnik 1 was the first human-made object to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. Its successful launch demonstrated that space travel was possible and marked the beginning of the Space Age, sparking intense competition between superpowers and transforming humanity's relationship with space exploration.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Diameter: 58
Mass: 83.6
Orbital period: 96.2
Image: Sputnik 1 satellite model.png

Show 10 more facts

nominal power output: 1
Commons category: Sputnik-1
UTC date of spacecraft launch: 1957-10-04
orbits completed: 1440
periapsis: 215
apoapsis: 940
orbital inclination: 65.1
orbital eccentricity: 0.05201
semi-major axis of an orbit: 5
time of object orbit decay: 1958-01-04

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Article

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 Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted. Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958.

It was a polished metal sphere 58 cm (23 in) in diameter with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its radio signal was easily detectable by amateur radio operators, and the 65° orbital inclination made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth.