On October 4, 1957, Sputnik-1 was the first satellite to be launched from Earth into geocentric orbit.
"The satellite travelled at 29,000 kilometers (18,000 mi) per hour and emitted radio signals which were monitored by amateur radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 22 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on October 26, 1957. Sputnik 1 burned as it fell from orbit upon reentering Earth's atmosphere, after traveling about 60 million km (37 million miles) in orbit."It was an enormous technological leap and a turning point in the Cold War as it scared the US leaders and population and energized the US Space Program into the real beginning of the space race.
Kudos to the engineers that made this technological feat possible. Regardless of politics and ideology, it was a worthwhile human endeavor.
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