 | Sputnik 1
Credit - © Mark Wade
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Other Designations: PS-1. Class: Technology. Destination: Maximum Payload Orbit. Nation: Russia. Manufacturer: Korolev. Tikhonravov's 1.4 metric ton ISZ satellite was to have been launched by the new R-7 ICBM as the Soviet Union's first satellite, during the International Geophysical Year. But it was not ready in time, so Korolev hurriedly developed Sputnik 1 as a replacement. It became the first artificial satellite of the earth. Sputnik 1 had 1 watt of power, producing an 0.4 second duration signal on the 7 and 15 m bands. Four antennae were deployed at 35 degree angles. Power was provided by three silver-zinc batteries. Thermo-regulation was by a ventilator. The 580 mm sphere had a mass of 83 kg and was made of highly polished Aluminum AMG6T alloy 2 mm thick. It was built without drawings due to the quick time schedule. Korolev was everywhere, supervising all aspects of its construction. It functioned for 21 days.
Typical orbit: 227 km x 945 km at 65 degrees inclination. Mass: 84 kg (185 lb).
Sputnik 1 Chronology - 1957 February 15 - Decision to build Sputnik 1 due to delays in Sputnik 3 design. - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz.
Council of Soviet Ministers (SM) Decree 171-83ss 'On Measures to Carry Out During the International Geophysical Year.--Launch of simple satellites in mid-1957' was issued.
- 1957 October 4 - Sputnik 1 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Mass: 84 kg (185 lb). Perigee: 227 km (141 mi). Apogee: 945 km (587 mi). Inclination: 65.00 deg. Period: 96.10 min.
First artificial satellite; transmitted signals for 21 days. Launching of first ever artificial satellite of the Earth; physical study of the atmosphere; remained in orbit until January 4, 1958. This event began the space race by galvanizing interest and action on the part of the American public to support an active role in space research, technology, and exploration.
Bibliography:- McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html.
- JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: http://msl.jpl.nasa.gov/home.html.
- Harvey, Brian, Spaceflight, "Some Details on Project Zenith (1957 Onwards)", 1993, Volume 35, page 382.
- Varfolomyev, Timothy, Spaceflight, "Soviet Rocketry that Conquered Space - 8K71 launches", 1996, Volume 38, page 31.
- Melnik, T G, Voenno-Kosmicheskiy Siliy, Nauka, Moscow, 1997..
- Siddiqi, Asif A, The Soviet Space Race With Apollo, University Press of Florida, 2003.
- NASA Report, Reconsidering Sputnik: Forty Years Since the Soviet Satellite , Web Address when accessed: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19980003950_1997125989.pdf" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.
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