India, Sept. 29 -- A satellite began beeping from space on October 4, 1957, prompting scientists to rethink what was possible. According to a NASA historical feature, Sputnik was the first artificial satellite put into orbit. Sputnik represented the Soviet Union's contribution to the International Geophysical Year, an international scientific effort that ran from July 1957 through December 1958. The chief designer, Sergei Korolev, had intended to construct a more sophisticated satellite, but after missing its deadline, he decided to make a very simple device. Sputnik orbited Earth every 90 minutes and did not carry scientific equipment. It contained a transmitter whose signal could be picked up by amateur radio operators around the world....