Satellites

This passage is about satellites, and one satellite created by the Russians called "Sputnik 1."

Lexile Level: 580L

Categories: History Science & Technology

Sputnik 1 was the first man-made satellite. A satellite is an object that circles around another object. Earth is a satellite of the sun. Sputnik 1 circled around the earth. It was launched into space on October 4, 1957. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. It was not very big. It only weighed 183 pounds. Sputnik 1 was round, like a ball. It could make it all the way around the earth in 92 days. It was pretty fast. It traveled at 18,000 miles per hour. The word "sputnik" means "traveling companion" in Russian. The launching of Sputnik 1 started a "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States. Both countries wanted to be the first to look around in space. Today, satellites are used in all kinds of ways. Satellites help broadcast TV shows. They also let people talk on the phone over great distances. Satellites are very helpful.