On Oct. 4, 1957, the former Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik 1 the first human-made object to enter Earth orbit. See photos from the historic mission.

Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957, at 1928 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in present-day Kazakhstan using the R-7 rocket. It was also known as Sputnik 8K71PS, a modified intercontinental ...

It was the beginning of the space age: the launch by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite. With the Soviet Union and the US locked in an ...

Soviet technician working on Sputnik 1, 1957. Universal Images Group via Getty Images. But just as America should have done in 1957, it’s time to take a deep breath before we make unwise decisions.