<P> Sputnik 1 (/ ˈspʊtnɪk / or / ˈspʌtnɪk /; "Satellite - 1", or "PS - 1", Простейший Спутник - 1 or Prosteyshiy Sputnik - 1, "Elementary Satellite 1") was the first artificial Earth satellite . The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957 . It was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses . Its radio signal was easily detectable even by radio amateurs, and the 65 ° inclination and duration of its orbit made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth . This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, a part of the Cold War . The launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments . </P> <P> Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information . The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave data about the ionosphere . </P> <P> Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No. 1 / 5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR (now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite travelled at about 29,000 kilometres per hour (18,000 mph; 8,100 m / s), taking 96.2 minutes to complete each orbit . It transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz, which were monitored by radio operators throughout the world . The signals continued for 21 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on 26 October 1957 . Sputnik burned up on 4 January 1958 while reentering Earth's atmosphere, after three months, 1440 completed orbits of the Earth, and a distance travelled of about 70 million km (43 million mi). </P> <P> On 17 December 1954, chief Soviet rocket scientist Sergei Korolev proposed a developmental plan for an artificial satellite to Minister of Defence Industry Dimitri Ustinov . Korolev forwarded a report by Mikhail Tikhonravov with an overview of similar projects abroad . Tikhonravov had emphasized that the launch of an orbital satellite was an inevitable stage in the development of rocket technology . </P>

Where did the launching of sputnik take place