The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, marking the start of the space age. The artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit Earth on its elliptical path.
That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race. The image is of a replica ,stored in the National Air and Space Museum. More
