Source checked by DailyFact editors

The first satellite was the size of a beach ball

Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, was about the size of a beach ball and weighed 183.9 pounds.

More history facts

Why it is true

The Soviet Union launched it on October 4, 1957. It took about 98 minutes to orbit Earth, and its launch marked the start of the space age.

Check the source

We keep the original reference beside the claim so you can inspect the evidence and surrounding context yourself.

More from history facts

Source checked

The Liberty Bell is mostly copper

The Liberty Bell is bronze, about 70 percent copper and 25 percent tin, and weighed 2,080 pounds when it was ordered.

See why it is true

Source checked

The United States bought Alaska for 2 cents an acre

The United States paid Russia $7.2 million for Alaska, less than 2 cents an acre.

See why it is true

Source checked

Stonehenge was begun about 5,000 years ago

The first monument at Stonehenge was built about 5,000 years ago, and the stone circle was erected about 2500 BC.

See why it is true

Give curiosity one minute.

See how DailyFact turns 500,000+ ideas into a simple daily ritual.

Download for Mac