A satellite launched in 1958 is still the oldest human-made object circling Earth — and it is expected to keep quietly orbiting overhead for another few centuries

)n 17 March 1958, a three-stage rocket lifted a polished aluminium sphere from Cape Canaveral and placed it in a long, elliptical orbit around Earth. Vanguard 1 was only 16.3 centimetres across and weighed about 1.5 kilograms. Six thin aerials made it look larger, but the spacecraft itself really was close to the size of a grapefruit. More

(Source: Space Daily - Jul 16)