Photo of the Day

Sputnik 1, the first satellite

Sunday 4 October 2026

Sputnik 1 launched on 4 October 1957.

A polished metal sphere with four long rod antennas sweeping back from it, against a black background — Photograph · Replica, photographed at the National Air and Space Museum, 2004

A full-size replica of Sputnik 1 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The real one was a polished metal ball that the Soviet Union launched into orbit, starting the Space Race overnight.

Fun facts

It was 58 cm (23 in) across and weighed 83.6 kg, with four long whip antennas. source ↗
Its simple radio beep could be picked up by amateur radio operators around the world. source ↗
It circled Earth about every 96 minutes. The batteries died after three weeks, and it burned up on re-entry on 4 January 1958. source ↗
The shock of its launch helped lead to the creation of NASA the following year. source ↗

Image: NASA / NSSDC
Licence: Public domain
Source: Wikimedia Commons