Sputnik 1 (04 October 1957)

Today is the sixtieth anniversary of the launch of the first human-made object into orbit.

On 04 October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 into low Earth orbit.  Sputnik would transmit radio signals for 21 days and orbit Earth 1440 times.  It eventually dipped out of orbit on 04 January 1958 and burned up on reentry to the atmosphere.

This full-size replica of Sputnik 1 can be viewed at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta, OH

This launch began the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union.  The US would follow the Sputnik launch with its first satellite Explore I on 01 February 1958.

There are currently 2,271 active satellites orbiting Earth.