On what date was the first satellite Sputnik launched by the Soviet Union?

• A. October 4, 1950
• B. October 4, 1957
• C. December 4, 1957
• D. July 20, 1969

Answer: (B)

Launching a satellite into Earth orbit for the first time shows a pivotal moment when human-made objects could circle the planet. Sputnik’s successful launch occurred on October 4, 1957. It was sent into orbit by the Soviet Union using a modified R-7 rocket from the Baikonur launch site and carried a radio transmitter, so people back on Earth could track it by its beeps. This date is significant because it marks the dawn of the space age and sparked the Space Race, prompting the United States to accelerate its own program and eventually establish NASA. The other dates don’t fit because they correspond to either events long before practical orbital flight or to different milestones altogether—like the Moon landing in 1969.