Artificial satellites are man-made satellites, they differ to natural satellites such as the Moon which orbits Earth and Earth itself which orbits the Sun.

Satellites are usually launched on rockets into space to reach their orbits.

In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 which was the world's first artificial satellite to be sent into space orbit.

This event lead to the start of the 'Space Race' between the Soviet Union and theUnited States which would continue for many years.