The name of the first artificial Earth satellite is Sputnik 1. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 marked the beginning of the space age and the onset of space exploration. The satellite was a spherical metal orb with four external antennae, allowing it to transmit radio signals back to Earth. Its successful launch shocked the world and sparked the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Sputnik 1 orbited Earth for about three months before re-entering the atmosphere, but its legacy continues to influence space exploration and technology today.