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Artificial satellites

 

sputnik_1

The USSR's Sputnik I was the first artificial satellite to enter Earth's orbit. This 83.6 kg (184 lb) metal sphere transmitted signals back to Earth for three weeks before its batteries failed.

vanguard-1

In 1958 the USA began to launch its own satellites. Five went into orbit. All of the earliest satellites have since crashed back to Earth, expect Vanguard 1 (USA, 1958) Which is still in space and likely to remain so for another 200 years.

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