First-ever satellite launch by Soviet led to NASA's creation
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite Sputnik I. Amid the US-Soviet cold war, Sputnik's launch directly led to the foundation of NASA in 1958. Weighing 83.6 kg, the 58-cm-wide spherical satellite transmitted signals to Earth for 21 days, before losing speed and burning up in the atmosphere in 92 days.