History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I.
The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path.
That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments.
While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race.
The Sputnik launch changed everything. As a technical achievement, Sputnik caught the world's attention and the American public off-guard. Its size was more impressive than Vanguard's intended 3.5-pound payload. In addition, the public feared that the Soviets' ability to launch satellites also translated into the capability to launch ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S.
The Soviets then struck again; on November 3, Sputnik II was launched, carrying a much heavier payload, including a dog named Laika.
It wasn't until January 1958 that the tide changed towards the US. It was then that Explorer 1 was launched.
This satellite carried a small scientific payload that eventually discovered the magnetic radiation belts around the Earth, named after principal investigator James Van Allen.
The Explorer program continued as a successful ongoing series of lightweight, scientifically useful spacecraft.
The success of Sputnik also led directly to the creation of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
In July 1958, Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act (commonly called the "Space Act"), which created NASA as of October 1, 1958.
Check out the beginning of the space race in pictures here.
Space timeline: The 1950s
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