Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite ever launched into Earth's orbit, marking the dawn of the Space Age. Developed by the Soviet Union, it was sent on October 4, 1957, as part of the broader Soviet space program. The satellite was a simple, yet groundbreaking, spherical design, measuring 58 centimeters (23 inches) in diameter and equipped with four long antennas that transmitted radio pulses back to Earth.

The launch of this probe sent shockwaves around the world, especially in the United States, as it demonstrated the Soviet Union's technological…