The world's First Satellite (Russia 1957)

Soviet Union(Russia) is the first satellite launcher in the world, since 1957. The first satellite is Sputnik 1(Kosmos 2175). 

Sputnik 1 "Satellite-1", or "PS-1", or Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1, "Elementary Satellite 1"  was the first artificial Earth satellite. The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957. It was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its radio signal was easily detectable even by radio amateurs, and the 65° inclination and duration of its orbit made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth. This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, a part of the Cold War. The launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments.

Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information, even though the satellite wasn't equipped with sensors. The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave data about the ionosphere.

Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR(now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite travelled at about 29,000 kilometres per hour (18,000 mph; 8,100 m/s), taking 96.2 minutes to complete each orbit. It transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz, which were monitored by radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 21 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on 26 October 1957. Sputnikburned up on 4 January 1958 while reentering Earth's atmosphere, after three months, 1440 completed orbits of the Earth, and a distance travelled of about 70 million km (43 million mi).

Mission type Technology demonstration
Operator Soviet space program
Harvard designation 1957 Alpha 2
COSPAR ID 1957-001B
SATCAT no. 00002
Mission duration 21 days
Orbits completed 1440

       

        Spacecraft properties

Manufacturer OKB-1
                                Ministry of Radiotechnical Industry
Launch mass 83.6 kg (184 lb)
Dimensions         58 cm (23 in) diameter
Power                 1 watt

        Start of mission
Launch date 4 October 1957, 19:28:34 UTC
Rocket         Sputnik 8K71PS
Launch site Baikonur 1/5

        End of mission
Disposal Orbital decay
Last contact 26 October 1957
Decay date 4 January 1958

        Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 6,955 km (4,322 mi)
Eccentricity 0.05201
Perigee 215 km (134 mi)
Apogee 939 km (583 mi)
Inclination 65.1°
Period 96.2 minutes
Epoch 4 October 1957, 15:12:00 UTC