Sputnik 1

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Sputnik 1
280px
Replica of Sputnik 1
NamesСпутник-1
Mission typeTechnology demonstration
OperatorOKB-1
Harvard designation1957 Alpha 2
COSPAR ID1957-001B
SATCAT no.00002
Mission duration21 days
Orbits completed1440
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerOKB-1
Ministry of Radiotechnical Industry
Launch mass83.6 kg (184 lb)
Dimensions58 cm (23 in) diameter
Power1 watt
Start of mission
Launch date4 October 1957, 19:28:34 (1957-10-04UTC19:28:34) UTC
RocketSputnik 8K71PS[1]
Launch siteBaikonur 1/5[1]
End of mission
DisposalOrbital decay
Last contact26 October 1957 (1957-10-26)
Decay date4 January 1958[1]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Semi-major axis6,955 km (4,322 mi)
Eccentricity0.05201
Perigee215 km (134 mi)
Apogee939 km (583 mi)
Inclination65.1°
Period96.2 minutes
Epoch4 October 1957, 15:12 UTC
Instruments
Radio transmitter
(20.005 MHz - 40.002 MHz)
← None
 

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to go around the Earth.[2] It was made by the Soviet Union.[2] It was launched on 4 October 1957 at Baikonur Cosmodrome.[2] It orbited (went around) the Earth for three months.[2] It carried a radio transmitter. It did 1,440 orbits of the Earth during this time. It went down into Earth's atmosphere on 4 January 1958 and burned up.[2]

The United States was very surprised when the Soviet Union sent Sputnik 1 into space. It did not want to fall behind. So, it began spending more money on science and education.[3] This was when the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States began. The competition helped the US and Russia fuel the United States’ space exploration endeavors

Etymology[change | change source]

The word Sputnik comes from the Russian Спутник, literally traveling companion. It is pronounced IPA: ['sput.nik] or IPA: ['sput.nık], not 'spʌt.nık.[2][4]

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wade, Mark. "Sputnik 1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Sputnik 1". NASA NSSDC. Archived from the original on 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  3. Calmes, Jackie (2010-12-06). "Obama Calls for New 'Sputnik Moment'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
  4. Siddiqi, Asif A. (2003). Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge. Universityy of Florida Press. p. 155. ISBN 0-8130-2627-X.