On October 4, 1957, the USSR launched the world's first artificial Earth satellite into the orbit. The USSR considered it necessary to be ahead of the Americans. Therefore, instead of a complex scientific satellite, which was originally planned, a small “Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1” was urgently created.
This event was the beginning of the space race. The satellite was of great political importance. The whole world saw its flight, its emitted signal could be heard by every radio amateur anywhere. The first satellite launch badly hurt the US prestige. When the Soviet satellite quite suddenly sent a signal to the whole world, it became clear that the USSR had become the first in space.