On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union became the first country to successfully launch a satellite into orbit. The satellite, Sputnik I, was about the size of a basketball and weighed approximately 183 pounds. The launch led directly to many new developments in scientific and military fields, including the foundations of NASA and The Space Act. The date officially marked the beginning of the space age, as well as the space race between the United States and the U.S.S.R. Before the U.S. could quickly respond, the Soviets launched another satellite less than a month later on November third, Sputnik II. The satellite carried a much heavier payload which included a dog. Then in January 31, 1958, the United States was able to gain momentum in the space race by launching Explorer I. The satellite carried scientific instruments and was responsible for the discovery of magnetic radiation belts around the Earth (now known as Van Allen Belts, named after the project leader) which is considered the first major scientific discovery during the space age. Ever since its early stages of development, the satellite has now become an increasingly important and heavily relied-on technology in our society today.
The reception of the satellite ushered in groundbreaking developments in countless fields of science. According to D.J. Coffey for the University of Florida, "The first communication satellite was launched on December 18, 1958. [The] Signal Communication by Orbital Relay (SCORE) broadcasted a Christmas message from President Eisenhower." This message was the first satellite signal broadcast to the public. The satellite orbited for 12 days before battery failure but had achieved its underlying purpose to prove that the U.S. was capable of putting an atlas missile into orbit. The United States and the U.S.S.R. combined would launch a total of six satellites in 1958, 14 in 1959, and 19 more in 1960.
