Sputnik 1

Sputnik 1 Arming Key

1967 CPA 3496

File:1957-10-07 New Moon.ogv

Bahnspur sputnik 1

Sputnik 1 Exploded View 3F9A6199 (36924864550) modified

Dawn of the Space Age

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957. The launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. It marked the start of the Space Age and the United States-Soviet Union space race.

Design

Sputnik 1 was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its design was simple, reflecting the limited knowledge about the conditions at high altitude. The satellite carried two radio transmitters (20.005 and 40.002 MHz), which emitted "beeps" that could be received on Earth. The signals continued for 21 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on 26 October 1957.

Launch

The satellite was launched at 19:28 UTC on 4 October 1957, aboard a R-7 Semyorka rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Sputnik 1 entered an orbit with a perigee of 215 km (134 mi) and an apogee of 939 km (583 mi), completing each orbit in about 96.2 minutes. This event marked the first time that an artificial object had been placed into Earth orbit.

Impact

The successful launch of Sputnik 1 had a significant impact worldwide. It demonstrated the Soviet Union's capability in missile technology and space exploration, leading to a period of Cold War competition known as the Space Race. The event created a sense of urgency in the United States and led to the creation of NASA and the increase in U.S. government spending on scientific research and education.

Legacy

Sputnik 1's mission lasted three months, after which the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere and burned up on 4 January 1958. Despite its relatively short mission duration, Sputnik 1's success was a major milestone in human history, demonstrating humanity's capability to reach beyond Earth. It paved the way for future space exploration, including the launch of satellites, manned space flights, and further exploration of the solar system.