Sputnik 1

2004

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. It carries no instruments except two radio transmitters broadcasting on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz so amateur radio operators worldwide can pick up its beep-beep-beep tone. Communication satellites become a real concept overnight. The subject dates from 1957; this photograph was taken in 2004.