Satellites 3,2,1, Launch poof! The satellite goes soaring into space. The rocket breaks apart leaving behind only the satellite. The long awaited launch of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, has been confirmed. A satellite is a man made object, put into space for the purpose of scientific research. The satellite is kept in orbit by little pushes given by things called thrusters. Without these thrusters, 1 degree off coarse and the rocket could plummet to the earth and be destroyed by either burning up in the earth's atmosphere or crashing. Isaac Newton mentioned the possibility of making an satellite on Earth in 1687. Only in the early 20th century did the theory work. The Russ