Sputnik 1: Earth’s First Artificial Satellite

Isaac Ordoñez

OCTOBER 04, 2024

Sputnik 1 being launched. 

Photo from a 1967 documentary film titled Ten Years of the Space Age as cited in NBC News.

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

A massive rocket carried the satellite into orbit, detaching itself to let the satellite transmit radio signals back to Earth. These signals continued for three weeks until the satellite’s battery depleted. 

The unexpected success of Sputnik 1 sent shockwaves through the United States. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson warned of potential threats from space, expressing concerns about the Soviet Union’s ability to use weapons in orbit. Many Americans shared Johnson’s anxiety.

The Soviet Union celebrated the launch as a major victory in the Cold War. Pravda, the official Soviet media, hailed it as a “monumental achievement” for socialism and scientific progress. Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet secretary, called it a “major victory for the Soviet Union” and a “triumph for the Soviet people.”

In contrast, American President Dwight D. Eisenhower remained calm, stating that the launch did not increase his apprehensions. He acknowledged the significant advancement made by the Soviet Union and urged the United States to respond with “determination and courage.”

The launch of Sputnik 1 forever changed the course of history, serving as a wake-up call to the United States and marking the beginning of the Space Age.