The first man-made satellite launched into orbit was Sputnik 1, which was sent into space by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This historic event marked the beginning of the space age and initiated the global space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Sputnik 1 was a spherical satellite, 58 centimeters in diameter, equipped with radio transmitters that emitted signals that could be detected on Earth. Its launch not only demonstrated the technological capabilities of the USSR but also sparked significant advances in science, technology, and education across the world.