The first artificial satellite sent into orbit around Earth by the Soviet Union in 1957, or any satellite modeled after it.
From Russian 'sputnik' meaning 'traveling companion' or 'fellow traveler,' from 'put' (path/way) + '-nik' (one who does something). It's literally 'a fellow on the path,' perfectly named for a satellite following Earth's orbital path.
Sputnik terrified America—not because of what it did, but because it proved the Soviets had better rocket technology, which meant they could potentially launch nuclear weapons anywhere. This single 184-pound satellite sparked the entire Space Race and changed world history. What's mind-bending is that Sputnik itself barely did anything—it just beeped—but what it *represented* changed everything.
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