October 4, 1957Reputable sourceWell documented
Sputnik 1 opens the Space Age
On the timeline · around October 4, 1957 ·
What happened
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, into orbit. Its radio beeps were audible to amateur operators around the world.
Why it matters
It started the Space Race and reshaped Cold War science, education, and politics overnight.
Sources
- NASA History Office. Sputnik and the Dawn of the Space Age · Reputable source