<P> Sputnik 1 ( / ˈspʊtnɪk / or / ˈspʌtnɪk / ; `` Satellite - 1 '' , or `` PS - 1 '' , Простейший Спутник - 1 or Prosteyshiy Sputnik - 1 , `` Elementary Satellite 1 '' ) was the first artificial Earth satellite . The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957 , orbiting for three weeks before its batteries died , then silently for two more months before falling back into the atmosphere . It was a 58 cm ( 23 in ) diameter polished metal sphere , with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses . Its radio signal was easily detectable even by radio amateurs , and the 65 ° inclination and duration of its orbit made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth . This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race , a part of the Cold War . The launch ushered in new political , military , technological , and scientific developments . </P>
<P> Sputnik 1 ( / ˈspʊtnɪk / or / ˈspʌtnɪk / ; `` Satellite - 1 '' , or `` PS - 1 '' , Простейший Спутник - 1 or Prosteyshiy Sputnik - 1 , `` Elementary Satellite 1 '' ) was the first artificial Earth satellite . The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957 , orbiting for three weeks before its batteries died , then silently for two more months before falling back into the atmosphere . It was a 58 cm ( 23 in ) diameter polished metal sphere , with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses . Its radio signal was easily detectable even by radio amateurs , and the 65 ° inclination and duration of its orbit made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth . This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race , a part of the Cold War . The launch ushered in new political , military , technological , and scientific developments . </P>
when did the first satellite go into space
when did the first satellite go into space
4 October 1957
4 October 1957