On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world's first artificial satellite it is about the size of a basketball, weighed only 183 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. This launch will ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. It appears that this launch will prove to be the beginning of the space age between the United States and the U.S.S.R.