The most famous satellites in history have taken on epic proportions

More than 58 years have passed since Sputnik 1 became the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1 consisted of a 23-inch-diameter metal sphere with four radio antennas – that's it.

Compared to the sophisticated satellites in orbit, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station, Sputnik 1 is not much special. But it provided scientists with important information about the Earth's upper atmosphere that contributed to the success of subsequent launches.

Since that October day in 1957, space agencies and private companies around the world have launched thousands of artificial satellites into Earth's orbit and to more distant worlds like Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto and beyond. As technology advances, the size and complexity of our space-based instruments will also increase.

Here are some of the most famous satellites in history and their sizes compared:

Mike Nudelman/Business Insider

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