The first artificial satellite launched into space was Sputnik 1. It was successfully launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This groundbreaking event marked the beginning of the space age and the U.S.-Soviet space race. Sputnik 1 was a spherical satellite that transmitted radio signals back to Earth, which could be received by radio operators worldwide. Its launch demonstrated the technological capabilities of the Soviet Union and spurred significant interest and investment in space exploration by other nations, particularly the United States.