#sputnik i

[bebimbob]

Science Sunday 11-08-17

A Brief History of Flight – The Rocket Age, Part 1

Rocket Bombs

During World War II, the Germans were way ahead of the Allies in all matters Rocketry.  Even as they were decisively losing the ground war, London (and later Antwerp, in the Battle of the Bulge) were being bombarded by rocket bombs called the V-1.  The British dubbed…

View On WordPress

[historysisco]

On this day in History October 4, 1957: The Space Age is launched when Russian satellite Sputnik blasts into space making it the first man-made object ever to leave the Earth's atmosphere. According to the article Sputnik and The Dawn of the Space Age from the NASA wesbite:

The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm.or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race.

The article SOVIET FIRES SATELLITE INTO SPACE: IT IS CIRCLING THE GLOBE AT 18,000 M.P.H.; SPHERE TRACKED IN 4 CROSSINGS OVER U.S. by William Jorden from the New York Times dated October 5, 1957:

The Russians calculated the satellite's orbit at a maximum of 560 miles above the earth and its speed at 18,000 miles an hour.

The official Soviet news agency Tass said the artificial moon, with a diameter of twenty- two inches and a weight of 184 pounds, was circling the earth once every hour and thirty- five minutes. This means more than fifteen times a day.

Two radio transmitters, Tass said, are sending signals continuously on frequencies of 20.005 and 40.002 megacycles. These signals were said to be strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators. The trajectory of the satellite is being tracked by numerous scientific stations.

The article Sputnik launched from the History Channel website delves further into Sputnik I:

Sputnik had a diameter of 22 inches and weighed 184 pounds and circled Earth once every hour and 36 minutes. Traveling at 18,000 miles an hour, its elliptical orbit had an apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 584 miles and a perigee (nearest point) of 143 miles. Visible with binoculars before sunrise or after sunset, Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators. Those in the United States with access to such equipment tuned in and listened in awe as the beeping Soviet spacecraft passed over America several times a day. In January 1958, Sputnik's orbit deteriorated, as expected, and the spacecraft burned up in the atmosphere.

And the race was on

For Further Reading:

SOVIET FIRES SATELLITE INTO SPACE: IT IS CIRCLING THE GLOBE AT 18,000 M.P.H.; SPHERE TRACKED IN 4 CROSSINGS OVER U.S. by William Jorden from the New York Times dated October 5, 1957

Sputnik from the Russian Space Web

Sputnik and The Dawn of the Space Age

Sputnik launched from the History Channel website 

[bgmedia42]

On this day in history, October 4th ...

"

In 1957, early in the International Geophysical Year events, the Soviet Union staged a major surprise: Sputnik I, the first space satellite was launched, inaugurating the Space Age ...

From my Events board on Pinterest.

[laika-good-girl]

This is how Sputnik I looked on the launch pad. It was just a ballistic missile the Soviets pointed straight up. It was officially called Простейший Спутник-1. On October 4, 1957, it became earth's first artificial satellite.