What was the first man made satelilite in space?

The first man-made satellite in space was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Weighing about 58 kilograms (128 pounds), it orbited the Earth approximately every 96 minutes. Sputnik 1's launch marked the beginning of the space age and sparked the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Its successful deployment demonstrated the feasibility of sending artificial objects into orbit, paving the way for future space exploration.