Featured moment · World history
Sputnik 1 enters orbit
4 October 1957
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite to orbit Earth, opening the Space Age.
Image note: The image depicts a museum display of Sputnik 1 rather than a photograph taken at launch.
What happened?
Sputnik 1 entered orbit on 4 October 1957. Its radio transmissions were received around the world and demonstrated that spacecraft could orbit the planet.
Why it mattered
The launch accelerated international interest and investment in space research, satellite technology and scientific education.