The Sputnik 1 rocket was launched October 4, 1957 7:28 PM by Baikonur Cosmodrome in Soviet Kazakhstan. and crashed down on earth because Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958. it was the first artificial satellite sent into space. Why it was artificial, is because scientists were studying, tinkering, and wondering if it was possible to send a satellite into orbit.

Left: Sputnik 1 rocket

Right: Sputnik 1 satellite