On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into near-earth orbit, opening the space era in the history of mankind.
The satellite, which became the first artificial celestial body, was launched into orbit by the R-7 launch vehicle from the 5th Research Test Site of the USSR Ministry of Defense, which later received the open name of the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Spacecraft PS-1(the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after the launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket weighing 7.5 tons were launched into an elliptical orbit with an apogee height of 947 km and a perigee of 288 km. At 315 seconds after the launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and the whole world immediately heard its call signs.
“… On October 4, 1957, the first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR. According to preliminary data, the launch vehicle told the satellite the required orbital speed of about 8000 meters per second. At present, the satellite describes elliptical trajectories around the Earth and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting Sun using the simplest optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.).
According to calculations, which are now being refined by direct observations, the satellite will move at altitudes up to 900 kilometers above the Earth's surface; the time of one complete revolution of the satellite will be 1 hour 35 minutes, the angle of inclination of the orbit to the equatorial plane is 65 °. On October 5, 1957, the satellite will pass over the Moscow region twice - at 1 hour 46 minutes. nights and at 6 o'clock. 42 minutes morning Moscow time. Messages about the subsequent movement of the first artificial satellite, launched in the USSR on October 4, will be broadcast regularly by broadcast radio stations.
The satellite has the shape of a sphere with a diameter of 58 cm and a weight of 83.6 kg. It has two radio transmitters that continuously emit radio signals with a frequency of 20.005 and 40.002 megahertz (wavelength of about 15 and 7.5 meters, respectively). The power of the transmitters ensures reliable reception of radio signals by a wide range of radio amateurs. The signals are in the form of telegraph parcels with a duration of about 0.3 seconds. with a pause of the same duration. A signal of one frequency is sent while a signal of another frequency is paused ... ".
Scientists M.V. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. Chekunov and many others.
The PS-1 satellite flew 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters worked for two weeks after launch.
The launch of an artificial satellite of the Earth was of great importance for the knowledge of the properties of outer space and the study of the Earth as a planet of our solar system. The analysis of the received signals from the satellite gave scientists the opportunity to study the upper layers of the ionosphere, which was not possible before. In addition, information on the operating conditions of the equipment, most useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper atmosphere was determined by decelerating the satellite.
The launch of the first artificial Earth satellite received a huge worldwide response. The whole world learned about his flight. The entire world press spoke about this event.
In September 1967, the International Federation of Astronautics proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the beginning of the space age of mankind.
Press service of Roscosmos
Flight parameters
- Flight start- October 4, 1957 at 19:28:34 GMT
- End of flight - 4 January
- Machine weight- 83.6 kg;
- Maximum diameter- 0.58 m.
- Orbit inclination- 65.1 °.
- Period of circulation- 96.7 minutes
- Perigee - 228 km.
- Apogee - 947 km.
- Vitkov - 1440
Device
The satellite hull consisted of two half-shells with docking frames connected by 36 bolts. The tightness of the joint was ensured by a rubber gasket. In the upper half-shell there were two antennas, each of two pins 2.4 m and 2.9 m long. Inside the sealed case there were: a block of electrochemical sources; radio transmitting device; fan; thermal relay and air duct of the thermal control system; switching device of on-board electrical automatics; temperature and pressure sensors; onboard cable network.
Launch history
Satellite signal
The flight of the first satellite was preceded by the titanic work of Soviet rocket designers led by Sergey Korolev.
1947-1957. For ten years from "V-2" to PS-1.The history of the creation of the First Satellite is the history of the rocket. The missile technology of the Soviet Union and the United States had a German origin.
The developed rocket design of the new layout on November 20, 1954 was approved by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. It was necessary in the shortest possible time to solve many new tasks, which included, in addition to the development and construction of the rocket itself, the choice of a site for the launch site, the construction of launch facilities, the commissioning of all the necessary services and equipment with observation posts of the entire 7000-kilometer flight route. The first R-7 missile complex was built and tested during 1955-1956 at Leningrad metal plant, at the same time, in accordance with the government decree of February 12, 1955, construction of NIIP-5 began in the area of the station Tyura-Tam... When the first rocket in the factory shop was already assembled, a delegation of the main members of the Politburo, headed by N. S. Khrushchev, visited the factory. The rocket made a tremendous impression not only on the Soviet leadership, but also on leading scientists.
We [nuclear scientists] believed that we have a large scale, but there we saw something, an order of magnitude larger. I was struck by the huge, visible to the naked eye, technical culture, the coordinated work of hundreds of highly qualified people and their almost everyday, but very businesslike attitude to those fantastic things with which they dealt ...
- (collection "The First Space", p. 18)
On January 30, 1956, the government signed a decree on the creation and launch into orbit in 1957-1958. "Object" D "" - a satellite with a mass of 1000-1400 kg, carrying 200-300 kg of scientific equipment. The development of the equipment was entrusted to the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, the construction of the satellite - OKB-1, the implementation of the launch - to the Ministry of Defense. By the end of 1956, it became clear that reliable satellite equipment could not be created within the required time frame.
Multimedia
- Signal sound from the first artificial satellite(info)
Literature
- The first space (collection of articles dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the space era) / compiled by O. V. Zakutnyaya. - M .: 2007. - ISBN 978-5-902533-03-0
Links
- “Sputnik as a Warning,” Los Angeles Times, September 30, 2007 - “Moscow was the first to go into space to show military strength in the face of US provocation. Fifty years have passed and the same begins again. ”- Matthew Brzezinski.
- “The anniversary of the launch of the first Soviet satellite is celebrated in France,” “Izvestia. Ru ", 04.10.07 -" A stamp dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first satellite and space exploration by mankind has been issued "
- Satellite instead of a bomb. Documentary Roscosmos television studio
Notes (edit)
Sputnik spacecraft series Previous flight:
-Sputnik-1 Next flight:
We have long been accustomed to living in the era of space exploration. However, watching the huge reusable rockets and space orbital stations today, many do not realize that the first launch of the spacecraft took place not so long ago - just 60 years ago.
Who launched the first artificial Earth satellite? - THE USSR. This issue is of great importance, since this event gave rise to the so-called space race between two superpowers: the USA and the USSR.
What was the name of the world's first artificial Earth satellite? - since such devices did not exist before, Soviet scientists considered that the name "Sputnik-1" is quite suitable for this device. The device's code designation is PS-1, which stands for "Simplest Sputnik-1".
Outwardly, the satellite had a rather uncomplicated appearance and was an aluminum sphere with a diameter of 58 cm to which two curved antennas were attached criss-cross, allowing the device to spread radio emission evenly and in all directions. Inside the sphere, made of two hemispheres fastened by 36 bolts, there were 50-kilogram silver-zinc batteries, a radio transmitter, a fan, a thermostat, pressure and temperature sensors. The total weight of the device was 83.6 kg. It is noteworthy that the radio transmitter broadcast in the range of 20 MHz and 40 MHz, that is, ordinary radio amateurs could also follow it.
History of creation
The history of the first space satellite and space flights in general begins with the first ballistic missile - V-2 (Vergeltungswaffe-2). The rocket was developed by the famous German designer Werner von Braun at the end of World War II. The first test launch took place in 1942, and the combat one took place in 1944; a total of 3,225 launches were carried out, mainly in Great Britain. After the war, Wernher von Braun surrendered to the US Army, in connection with which he headed the Arms Design and Development Service in the United States. Back in 1946, a German scientist presented to the US Department of Defense a report "Preliminary design of an experimental spacecraft orbiting the Earth", where he noted that a rocket capable of launching such a ship into orbit could be developed within five years. However, funding for the project was not approved.
On May 13, 1946, Joseph Stalin adopted a decree on the creation of the missile industry in the USSR. Sergei Korolev was appointed chief designer of ballistic missiles. For the next 10 years, scientists have developed intercontinental ballistic missiles R-1, P2, R-3, etc.
In 1948, the rocket designer Mikhail Tikhonravov made a report for the scientific community on composite rockets and the results of calculations, according to which the 1000-kilometer-long rockets under development can reach long distances and even put an artificial Earth satellite into orbit. However, such a statement was criticized and was not taken seriously. Tikhonravov's department at NII-4 was disbanded due to irrelevant work, but later, thanks to the efforts of Mikhail Klavdievich, it was reassembled in 1950. Then Mikhail Tikhonravov spoke directly about the mission to launch the satellite into orbit.
Satellite model
After the creation of the R-3 ballistic missile, its capabilities were presented at the presentation, according to which the rocket was capable of not only hitting targets at a distance of 3000 km, but also launch a satellite into orbit. So by 1953, scientists still managed to convince the top management that the launch of an orbiting satellite is possible. And the leaders of the armed forces had an understanding of the prospects for the development and launch of an artificial earth satellite (AES). For this reason, in 1954, a resolution was adopted to create a separate group at NII-4 with Mikhail Klavdievich, which would be engaged in satellite design and mission planning. In the same year, Tikhonravov's group presented a program for space exploration, from launching satellites to landing on the moon.
In 1955, a Politburo delegation headed by NS Khrushchev visited the Leningrad Metal Plant, where the construction of a two-stage R-7 rocket was completed. The impression of the delegation resulted in the signing of a decree on the creation and launch of a satellite into Earth orbit in the next two years. The design of the satellite began in November 1956, and in September 1957 "The Simplest Sputnik-1" was successfully tested on a vibration stand and in a heat chamber.
Unambiguously the question "who invented Sputnik-1?" - it is impossible to answer. The development of the first Earth satellite took place under the leadership of Mikhail Tikhonravov, and the creation of the launch vehicle and the launch of the satellite into orbit - under the leadership of Sergei Korolev. However, a considerable number of scientists and researchers worked on both projects.
Launch history
In February 1955, the top management approved the creation of the Research Proving Ground No. 5 (later Baikonur), which was to be located in the Kazakhstan desert. The tests of the first ballistic missiles of the R-7 type were carried out at the test site, but according to the results of five test launches, it became clear that the massive warhead of the ballistic missile could not withstand the temperature load and required improvement, which would take about six months. For this reason, S.P.Korolev requested from NS Khrushchev two rockets for the experimental launch of PS-1. At the end of September 1957, the R-7 rocket arrived at Baikonur with a lightweight head part and a transition under the satellite. Excess equipment was removed, as a result of which the mass of the rocket was reduced by 7 tons.
On October 2, S.P. Korolev signed an order on flight tests of the satellite and sent a notice of readiness to Moscow. And although no replies came from Moscow, Sergei Korolev decided to withdraw the Sputnik (R-7) launch vehicle from PS-1 to the launch position.
The reason why the leadership demanded that the satellite be put into orbit during this period is that the so-called International Geophysical Year was held from July 1, 1957 to December 31, 1958. According to him, during the specified period, 67 countries jointly and under a single program carried out geophysical research and observations.
The launch date of the first artificial satellite is October 4, 1957. In addition, on the same day, the opening of the VIII International Astronautical Congress took place in Spain, Barcelona. The leaders of the USSR space program were not disclosed to the public due to the secrecy of the work being carried out; Academician Leonid Ivanovich Sedov reported to the Congress about the sensational launch of the satellite. Therefore, the world community has long considered the Soviet physicist and mathematician Sedov the "father of Sputnik".
Flight history
At 22:28:34 Moscow time, a rocket with a satellite was launched from the first site of NIIP No. 5 (Baikonur). After 295 seconds, the central block of the rocket and the satellite were launched into an elliptical orbit of the Earth (apogee - 947 km, perigee - 288 km). After another 20 seconds, PS-1 separated from the rocket and gave a signal. These were repetitive beep! Beep! ", Which were caught at the range for 2 minutes, until" Sputnik-1 "disappeared over the horizon. On the first orbit of the spacecraft around the Earth, the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS) broadcast a message about the successful launch of the world's first satellite.
After receiving signals from PS-1, detailed data began to arrive about the apparatus, which, as it turned out, was close to not reaching the first space velocity and not going into orbit. The reason for this was an unexpected failure of the fuel supply control system, due to which one of the engines was delayed. Fractions of a second separated from failure.
However, PS-1 nevertheless successfully reached an elliptical orbit, along which it moved for 92 days, while completing 1440 revolutions around the planet. The device's radio transmitters worked for the first two weeks. What caused the death of the first satellite of the Earth? - Having lost speed against atmospheric friction, Sputnik-1 began to decline and completely burned up in the dense layers of the atmosphere. It is noteworthy that many could observe a certain shiny object moving across the sky at that time. But without special optics, the shiny body of the satellite could not be seen, and in fact this object was the second stage of the rocket, which also rotated in orbit, along with the satellite.
Flight value
The first launch of an artificial Earth satellite in the USSR produced an unprecedented rise in pride in their country and a strong blow to the prestige of the United States. An excerpt from the United Press publication: “90 percent of the talk about artificial earth satellites was in the United States. As it turned out, 100 percent of the case fell on Russia ... ”. And despite the erroneous ideas about the technical backwardness of the USSR, it was the Soviet apparatus that became the first satellite of the Earth, moreover, its signal could be monitored by any radio amateur. The flight of the first Earth satellite marked the beginning of the space age and launched the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Just 4 months later, on February 1, 1958, the United States launched its Explorer-1 satellite, which was assembled by a team of scientist Wernher von Braun. And although it was several times lighter than PS-1 and contained 4.5 kg of scientific equipment, it was still the second and no longer influenced the public so much.
Scientific results of the PS-1 flight
The launch of this PS-1 pursued several goals:
- Testing the technical ability of the device, as well as checking the calculations adopted for the successful launch of the satellite;
- Study of the ionosphere. Before the launch of the spacecraft, radio waves sent from Earth were reflected from the ionosphere, making it impossible to study it. Now scientists have been able to start exploring the ionosphere through the interaction of radio waves emitted by a satellite from space and traveling through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.
- Calculation of the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere by observing the rate of deceleration of the vehicle due to friction against the atmosphere;
- Study of the influence of outer space on equipment, as well as determination of favorable conditions for the operation of equipment in space.
Listen to the sound of the First satellite
And although the satellite did not have any scientific equipment, tracking its radio signal and analyzing its nature gave many useful results. So a group of scientists from Sweden carried out measurements of the electronic composition of the ionosphere, relying on the Faraday effect, which states that the polarization of light changes when it passes through a magnetic field. Also, a group of Soviet scientists from Moscow State University developed a method for observing a satellite with an accurate determination of its coordinates. Observation of this elliptical orbit and the nature of its behavior made it possible to determine the density of the atmosphere in the region of orbital altitudes. The unexpectedly increased density of the atmosphere in these areas prompted scientists to create a theory of deceleration of satellites, which contributed to the development of astronautics.
Video about the first satellite.
