-launched October 4,1957
-launched by the Soviet Union
-world's first artificial satellite
-about the size of a basketball
-weighed about 183.5lbs
-23 inches in diameter
-98 minutes to orbit Earth
-started the space race between Russia and the U.S.
-made the u.S. begin to work with Werner Von Braun and launched Explorer 1 on January 31,1958
-helped discover about the magnetic radiation belts around the Earth
-Sputnik 1 also helped with the creation of NASA(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in July 1958
-the beep of sputnik was heard worldwide through ham radios
-completes one orbit in 96 minutes and 17 seconds
-for 21 days it transmitted data
-burned up when it reentered Earth's atmosphere

Sputnik 2
launched November 3,1957
-Laika was placed in orbit making her the first animal in space.
-larger and heavier and more sophisticated
-two compartments
-held instruments for recording temperatures
-one for holding Laika
-showed that zero gravity did not have any effect on Laika
-the satellite could not bring her back
-after a week her air supply was gone and she died
-burnt up when the satellite reentered the atmosphere in April 1958

Sputnik 3
launched May 15,1958
-691 days in orbit
-collected data on micrometeroites and cosmic rays
-3300lbs
-showed that the Soviet Union had better and more powerful rockets than the United States
-not including Sputnik 7 and 8, Sputnik 4-10 were called "Korabel-Sputnik" ,meaning "ship-satellite"

Sputnik 4
launched May 15,1960
-launched from a Vostok vehicle
-reentry attempt
-in orbit for two years

Sputnik 5
launched August 16,1960
-inside included two dogs, mice, rats, houseflies and plants
-18 orbits
-landed safely