Question: Which of the following is the first active satellite?
A Echo I
B Telstar I
C Early Bird
D Sputnik I
Answer: Sputnik I
| Satellite | Country of Origin | Launch Date | Significance |
| Sputnik I
| Soviet Union
| October 4, 1957
| · World’s first artificial satellite, launched during the Space Race. · Demonstrated the feasibility of launching objects into Earth’s orbit. · Marked the beginning of the space age and space exploration. |
| Echo I
| United States
| August 12, 1960
| · Passive communication satellite, part of the Echo project. · Composed of a large, metallic balloon that reflected radio signals. · Demonstrated the potential of satellite-based telecommunications. |
| Telstar I
| United States | July 10, 1962 | · First active communication satellite, launched by NASA. · Enabled live transatlantic television broadcasts and telephone calls. · Paved the way for modern satellite communication systems. |
| Early Bird | United States | April 6, 1965 | · Also known as “Intelsat I,” the first commercial communication satellite. · Operated by the International Telecommunications Satellite Consortium (Intelsat). · Provided global telephone, television, and data transmission services. |