Sputnik 1 (Russian, Elementary
Satellite-1)) was the first artificial satellite. Launched into
geocentric orbit by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, it was
the first of a series of satellites collectively known as the
Sputnik program. The unanticipated announcement of Sputnik 1's
success started the Sputnik crisis in the United States and began
the Cold War Space Race. |