The first Russian satellite. Artificial Earth satellites: All about satellites

On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, ushering in the space age in human history.

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 Baikonur Cosmodrome.

PS-1 spacecraft(the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world.

“...On October 4, 1957, the first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR. According to preliminary data, the launch vehicle gave the satellite the required orbital speed of about 8,000 meters per second. Currently, the satellite describes elliptical trajectories around the Earth and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting Sun using simple optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.).

According to calculations, which are now being refined by direct observations, the satellite will move at altitudes of 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 area twice - at 1 hour 46 minutes. at night and at 6 o'clock. 42 min. morning Moscow time. Messages about the subsequent movement of the first artificial satellite, launched in the USSR on October 4, will be transmitted regularly by broadcast radio stations.

The satellite has the shape of a ball 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 about 15 and 7.5 meters, respectively). Transmitter powers ensure reliable reception of radio signals by a wide range of radio amateurs. The signals take the form of telegraphic messages lasting about 0.3 seconds. with a pause of the same duration. A signal of one frequency is sent during a pause of a signal of another frequency...”

Scientists M.V. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. worked on the creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics S.P. Korolev. Chekunov and many others.

The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.

The launch of an artificial Earth satellite was of enormous importance for understanding the properties of outer space and studying the Earth as a planet in our solar system. 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 about the operating conditions of the equipment, which was very useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere was determined based on the braking of 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 talked about this event.

In September 1967, the International Astronautical Federation proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the Beginning of the Human Space Age.

Press service of Roscosmos

For 50 years, the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite (AES) was interpreted as an unconditional victory of the USSR over the USA in the space race. Today we have matured enough to evaluate more objectively what happened on October 4, 1957.

By this now well-known date, it was not the space race that was gaining momentum (it really began only after Sputnik), but the arms race. Until 1957, the United States was always ahead in it: first in the creation of the atomic bomb, then in long-range bombers, then the hydrogen bomb. After it, the scale of damage that both countries could inflict on each other became terrifyingly enormous.

And now it comes to the satellite. In the USA there was no doubt that they would be first, as usual. A satellite, that is, an aircraft capable of orbiting the Earth, served as one of the most reliable indicators indicating the presence of intercontinental ballistic missiles in a country. In a top-secret note, which, among other responsible figures, was signed by M.V. Keldysh and S.P. Korolev, it was said: “If the launch of a satellite and its entry into orbit is successful, then a radio message about this should be made 2-2.5 hours after its launch, i.e. after reliable data on the satellite’s passage of the first full revolution of the Earth are received from the coordination and computing center. Messages about the further movement of the satellite should be regularly transmitted by radio.

If the satellite does not enter orbit, but makes a full revolution around the Earth, this should also be reported, since this experiment will confirm the possibility of the rocket hitting any point on the globe.”

The power of traction and the power of law

Back in 1952, a report “On the Problem of an Artificial Earth Satellite” was prepared for President G. Truman. In the Soviet Union, the issue of Sputnik was brought to the level of senior government leadership for political decision two years later. The idea of ​​​​creating an artificial Earth satellite by S.P. Korolev reported on March 16, 1954 at a meeting with Academician M.V. Keldysh. He, in turn, received the approval of this proposal from the President of the USSR Academy of Sciences A.N. Nesmeyanova. May 27, 1954 S.P. Korolev turned to the Minister of Armaments D.F. Ustinov with a memorandum “On the artificial Earth satellite” prepared by M.K. Tikhonravov. In August 1954, the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved proposals for the study of scientific and theoretical issues related to space flight. At the beginning of August 1955, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR M.V. Khrunichev, Chairman of the Special Committee on Missile and Jet Weapons V.M. Ryabikov and S.P. Korolev is sent to the First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee N.S. Khrushchev and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N.A. A note to Bulganin in connection with the American announcement of plans to launch Sputnik. And already on August 8, 1955, at a meeting of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee, a decision was made “On the creation of an artificial Earth satellite.”

At the technical level, both countries moved almost on a par. But the launch of a satellite in the United States depended not only on technical success - the creation of a rocket with the necessary thrust force, but also on the result of the discussion of one of the proposed international legal norms.

As early as March 28, 1955, the US National Security Council recommended reporting to the President on the advisability of introducing the principle of “freedom of outer space” in order “to create a precedent for the delimitation of “national airspace” and “international outer space” when launching small artificial satellites into orbit, which could give us an advantage in the future when we are able to operate larger reconnaissance satellites.” The argument was simple: by adopting policies that favored a legal regime for outer space similar to that established for the high seas, the United States could set a precedent for U.S. spacecraft to freely and lawfully fly over various countries. It is amazing that such a powerful power as the United States, at the height of the Cold War, was thinking about the international legal basis for its next military-political steps. It is worth noting that the United States half a century ago differs in this respect from the United States today, when in the development and implementation of the foreign policy of this country, the right of might dominates the force of right.

Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union they practically did not think about the international legal foundations of space exploration: there was still a year or two left before the first publications on this topic in the USSR. To be precise, the first ideas for future space law were expressed in the Soviet Union at the turn of the 20-30s of the twentieth century, but this was only an anticipation of astronautics and its future legal problems, formulated by the most insightful scientists. In 1926 V.A. Zarzar suggested that in the future, at a certain altitude, an international space flight regime will be established, which will replace the regime of state sovereignty in airspace. In 1933 E.A. Korovin made a report “Conquest of the atmosphere and air law.” His position was directly opposite to the point of view of V.A. Zarzara. The state, he believed, has the right to take measures to protect its security regardless of flight altitude over his territory. Report by E.A. Korovin was published in 1934 in the French journal on international law. Actually, in the fifties, for the whole world, it was the only doctrinal hint about what position the Soviet Union might officially take regarding the flight of a satellite over its territory.

Unique strategy game

In the lives of people and states, all kinds of interests, desires and forces constantly collide. They usually take the form of collisions, conflicts, and wars. To rationally analyze such situations, choose a winning strategy and make a forecast, a mathematical game theory was invented. In it, a game is a certain set of rules that describe the formal structure of a competitive situation. If the “players” are states, then the rules agreed upon between them are nothing more than international law. In short, the level of competitiveness of a game is inversely proportional to the volume of rules (law). But the peculiarity of the race for the First Sputnik was that the “game” had begun before, than the rules were established for her. This is a unique situation.

The “players” strategies were as follows:

The USSR sought to win the game without thinking about the rules, to win technically;

USA, participating in technical race, they also decided to create their own rules so that with their help winning would be guaranteed.

At the start of the race, there is almost no international law applicable to space activities. But the military-political competition reaches a high, even dangerous level. One of the direct ways to reduce the danger of war from space is the development of international space law. It must be admitted that at the state level, the United States of America was the first to understand this. But to avoid international debate over "freedom of outer space," President Eisenhower's administration at the time banned government officials from any public discussion of space flight. In the USSR, a similar ban was due to reasons of secrecy.

The technical side of the matter still remained the main condition for success. On July 5, 1957, the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Allen Dulles, reported: “Information regarding the launch time of the first Soviet artificial Earth satellite is fragmentary, and our experts believe that it is not yet sufficient to confirm with a high probability exactly when the satellite will be launched... In for reasons of prestige and due to psychological factors, the USSR will strive to be the first to launch the Earth satellite... Russians love theatricality and could choose Tsiolkovsky's birthday to carry out such an operation, especially given the centenary of his birth...”

One hundred years since the birth of K.E. Tsiolkovsky was executed on September 17, 1957. On this day S.P. Korolev, speaking with a report dedicated to the scientist in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions, uttered one significant phrase: “In the near future, for scientific purposes, the first test launches of artificial Earth satellites will be carried out in the USSR and the USA.” He already knew that the Soviet satellite would be launched on October 6 (!).

On September 22, 1957, a rocket and a satellite were brought to Tyura-Tam (that was the name of the junction where, two years earlier, a testing ground had begun to be created, which for secrecy purposes would later be called Baikonur in TASS reports), and preparations began for the launch of the first satellite.

September 25, 1957 at the Moscow Higher Technical School. Bauman opened an anniversary session dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the school. MSTU graduate, chief designer and corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences S.P. Korolev, giving a report, said: “Our tasks are to ensure that Soviet rockets fly higher and earlier than this will be done anywhere else... Our tasks are to ensure that the first artificial satellite of the Earth is Soviet, created by Soviet people.” .

However, there is nothing unusual about this. Similar approaches existed in the United States: Special Assistant to the President N. Rockefeller convinced D. Eisenhower that losing in this race was unacceptable for the United States. The ideology of the race left no other interpretation of the development of events: the United States was either ahead or behind, that is, the “winners” or the “losers.” This thinking is typical of a zero-sum game, in which every win for one side means a loss for the other and vice versa.

Academician B.V. Rauschenbach, one of the largest specialists in the space industry, comrade-in-arms of S.P. Korolev, characterized the situation as “sporting.” He recalled: “The sporting nature of the process had two sides. Firstly, all of us who worked in the field of creating spacecraft experienced emotions close to athletes - to be the first to reach the finish line. After all, at the same time something similar was being done in the USA, and we all wanted not to let our American colleagues get ahead of us. It was absolutely sincere feeling competitiveness. Secondly, the results of the competition also had political significance.”

Having read the laconic message that the report “Satellite over the Planet” is scheduled for October 6 in Washington, S.P. Korolev was worried that the Americans were going to launch the satellite the day before and explain to the world the meaning of what had been achieved. Having failed to reach N.S. Khrushchev, without any coordination with the political leadership in Moscow, with his power directly at Tyura-Tama, moved the launch date to October 4. The count literally went on in days and hours.

Cosmic dawn

When the rocket was ready for launch, Korolev asked the head of the test site: “Do you have a regimental trumpeter?” The bugler was called. The command rang out: “Signalman, it’s dawn to play!” And over the cosmodrome (and it seemed over the entire planet) a musical signal floated, announcing the beginning of the countdown to the space age of mankind. What did that unknown trumpeter think then? We do not know. But Korolev was probably thinking about the cosmic fate of humanity - otherwise, how could he, at the most crucial moment of his busy life? technical problems, such a poetic solution arose? Perhaps on that day Korolev was the only person in the world who deeply understood the civilizational meaning of what was happening.

For the first 24 hours after the announcement of the Soviet satellite, the atmosphere in the White House was completely calm, until the public reaction to this event became known. Then they remembered that Eisenhower had been warned many times about the propaganda significance of launching Sputnik, but he brushed it off each time.

The President tried to dampen the satellite's effect, but without success. Then he urged his staff not to comment on the launch of Sputnik, much less answer the question of whether the United States could surpass the Soviets in space. He did not want interpretations of the nascent space exploration as a space race!

Henry Kissinger in his Diplomacy tries to downplay the significance of what happened. He writes: “When the Soviets launched an artificial satellite—“Sputnik”—into Earth orbit in October 1957, Khrushchev interpreted this essentially one-time achievement as proof that the Soviet Union was surpassing democracies scientifically and militarily... President Eisenhower found himself almost alone, refusing to share the general panic. Being a military man, he understood the difference between a prototype and a military operational model of weapons.”

Eisenhower understood everything perfectly well, but in those days he was more interested in the international legal aspects of the flight of the first artificial space object. The satellite made orbit after orbit, flying over the territory of many countries. The US was closely monitoring their reaction. There were almost no diplomatic moves or protests around the world. Eisenhower decided to discuss this remarkable fact with a group of his advisers and senior officials. “The Russians unintentionally created a good situation for us to establish the principle of freedom of outer space,” they came to the conclusion at that meeting, even rejoicing at the precedent.

Winning - total

Millions of people all over the world went outside to look at the night sky to see the man-made satellite, and rejoiced when they found a star running quickly across the sky. In fact, it was not a satellite, whose relatively small surface reflected too little light to be noticed by the naked eye. The second stage of the rocket was visible and entered the same orbit as the satellite. The launch of the satellite was accompanied by other technical glitches. Thus, the satellite entered an orbit below the calculated one. But there was certainly a clear technical victory achieved. For thousands of years, people have thrown stones into the sky, and they always came back. That day was the first time he did not return. The first escape velocity, calculated by Newton, was finally achieved. The satellite was in orbit until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth.

The Americans were close to being the first to launch satellite, but the level of competition for them did not cover the legal framework that had to be introduced first. For example, the successful launch of the American two-stage Jupiter-C launch vehicle on September 20, 1956 could only take place after a thorough examination by a Pentagon representative to see if there was a third stage hidden under the head fairing, capable of launching some kind of payload into space orbit. From a military-political point of view, given the tension of the international situation, such demands were justified.

The satellite caused an unprecedented international response. Literally in one day, the international status of the USSR grew incredibly.

But no less important is the creation of the rules of the space game, the honor of initiating which, of course, belongs to the United States. Thus, the launch of the first satellite turned out to be a win for everyone.

The United States wanted to win the race, but it won because the game went on according to its rules.

The USSR won the race technically, but was forced to agree to the rules of the game.

The overall benefit of the USA and the USSR was the realization of the need to move to the thinking of a “non-zero-sum game”, which did not happen immediately, but still happened.

Humanity also benefited: for those who followed, both rules of cosmic behavior and a technical springboard were created.

The first artificial Earth satellite was created and launched into space in the USSR. This happened on October 4, 1957. On this day, radio stations around the world interrupted their broadcasts to report the most important news. Russian word“satellite” has entered all the languages ​​of the world.
It was a fantastic breakthrough for mankind in the exploration of outer space, and it marked the beginning of the great Space Age of all mankind. And the palm rightfully belongs to the USSR.

Here is a photo taken in the hall of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In the foreground is the First Sputnik, the highest technological achievement of its time.
On the second floor are IKI employees - outstanding scientists, creators of the first satellite, atomic weapons, space science and technology.

If you can't read it in the picture, here are their names:

Valentin Semenovich Etkin - probing the Earth's surface from space using remote radiophysical methods.

Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich - theoretical physicist, was repeatedly awarded the 1st degree Stalin Prize for special work related to the atomic bomb. Three times Hero of Social Labor.

October 4, 1957 will forever go down in human history as the beginning new era- cosmic. It was on this day that the first artificial satellite (AES), Sputnik-1, was sent from the Baikonur Cosmodrome to roam space. It weighed relatively little - 83.6 kilograms, but at that time delivering even such a “crumb” into orbit was a very serious task.

I think that there is not a person in Russia who does not know who was the first man in space.

The situation with the first satellite is more complicated. Many don't even know which country it belonged to.

Thus began a new era in science and the legendary space race between the USSR and the USA.

The era of rocket science begins at the beginning of the last century, with theory. It was then that the outstanding scientist Tsiolkovsky, in his article on the jet engine, actually predicted the appearance of satellites. Despite the fact that the professor had many students who continued to popularize his ideas, many considered him just a dreamer.

Then new times came, the country had many things to do and problems besides rocket science. But two decades later, Friedrich Zander and the now famous aviator engineer Korolenko founded a group to study jet propulsion. After this, there were several events that led to the fact that 30 years later the first satellite was launched into space, and after some time a person was launched:

1933 - launch of the first rocket with a jet engine;

1943 - invention of German V-2 rockets;

1947–1954 - launches of P1-P7 rockets.

The device itself was ready in mid-May at 7 pm. Its device was quite simple; it had 2 beacons, which made it possible to measure its flight trajectories. It is interesting that after sending the notification that the satellite was ready for flight, Korolev did not receive any response from Moscow and independently decided to place the satellite at the launch position.

The preparation and launch of the satellite was led by S.P. Korolev. The satellite completed 1440 full revolutions in 92 days, after which it burned up, entering the dense layers of the atmosphere. The radio transmitters worked for two weeks after launch.

The first satellite was given the name “PS-1”. When the project of the first-born in space was born, there were disputes among engineers and designers: what shape should it be? After listening to the arguments of all sides, Sergei Pavlovich categorically declared: “The ball and only the ball!” - and, without waiting for questions, he explained his plan: “The ball, its shape, its living conditions from the point of view of aerodynamics have been thoroughly studied.

Its pros and cons are known. And this is of no small importance.

Understand - FIRST! When humanity sees an artificial satellite, it should evoke good feelings in them. What could be more expressive than a ball? It is close to the shape of the natural celestial bodies of our solar system. People will perceive the satellite as a certain image, as a symbol of the space age!

I consider it necessary to install such transmitters on board so that their call signs can be received by radio amateurs on all continents. The orbital flight of the satellite should be calculated in such a way that, using the simplest optical instruments, everyone from Earth could see the flight of the Soviet satellite.”

On the morning of October 3, 1957, scientists, designers, members of the State Commission - everyone who was associated with the launch - gathered at the installation and testing building. We were waiting for the two-stage Sputnik rocket and space system to be transported to the launch pad.

The metal gate opened. The locomotive seemed to push out a rocket placed on a special platform. Sergei Pavlovich, establishing a new tradition, took off his hat. His example of high respect for the work that created this miracle of technology was followed by others.

Korolev took a few steps behind the rocket, stopped and, according to the old Russian custom, said: “Well, with God!”

There were only a few hours left before the start of the space age. What awaited Korolev and his associates? Will October 4 be the victorious day that he has dreamed of for many years? The sky, dotted with stars that night, seemed to become closer to the Earth. And everyone who was present at the launch pad involuntarily looked at Korolev. What was he thinking about, looking into the dark sky, twinkling with myriads of near and distant stars? Maybe he remembered the words of Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky: “The first great step of humanity is to fly out of the atmosphere and become a satellite of the Earth”?

The last meeting of the State Commission before the start. There was a little over an hour left before the start of the experiment. The floor was given to S.P. Korolev, everyone was waiting for a detailed report, but the chief designer was brief: “The launch vehicle and satellite have passed launch tests. I propose to launch the rocket and space complex at the appointed time, today at 22:28.”

And here is the long-awaited launch!

"THE FIRST ARTIFICIAL SATELLITE OF THE EARTH, SOVIET

SPACE CAR LAUNCHED INTO ORBIT.”

The launch was carried out from the 5th research site of the USSR Ministry of Defense "Tyura-Tam" on the Sputnik launch vehicle, created on the basis of the R7 intercontinental ballistic missile.

Launch and flight

On Friday, October 4, at 22:28:34 Moscow time (19:28:34 GMT), a successful launch was made.

295 seconds after the launch, PS-1 and the central block (II stage) of the rocket weighing 7.5 tons were launched to

An elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At the same time, the apogee was in the Southern Hemisphere, and the perigee was in the Northern Hemisphere. 314.5 seconds after launch, the protective cone was released and Sputnik separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and it cast its vote. “Beep! Beep! - that was his call sign.

They were caught at the training ground for 2 minutes, then the Sputnik went beyond the horizon. People at the cosmodrome ran out into the street, shouted “Hurray!”, shook the designers and military personnel.

And on the first orbit a TASS message sounded:

“As a result of a lot of hard work by research institutes and design bureaus, the world’s first artificial Earth satellite was created.”

Only after receiving the first signals from Sputnik did the results of processing telemetry data arrive and it turned out that only a fraction of a second separated it from failure. Before the start, the engine in block G was “delayed”, and the time to enter the mode is strictly controlled, and if it is exceeded, the start is automatically canceled.

The unit entered mode less than a second before the control time. At the 16th second of the flight, the tank emptying system (TES) failed, and due to increased consumption kerosene, the central engine turned off 1 second earlier than the estimated time. According to the memoirs of B.E. Chertok: “A little more - and the first cosmic speed might not have been achieved.

But the winners are not judged! A great thing has happened!”

The inclination of Sputnik 1's orbit was about 65 degrees, which meant that Sputnik 1 flew approximately between the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle, shifting 24 degrees along longitude 37 due to the Earth's rotation during each orbit.

The orbital period of Sputnik 1 was initially 96.2 minutes, then it gradually decreased due to the lowering of the orbit, for example, after 22 days it became 53 seconds shorter.

History of creation

The flight of the first satellite was preceded by long work by scientists and designers, in which scientists played a significant role.
Here are their names:

Valentin Semenovich Etkin - probing the Earth's surface from space using remote radiophysical methods.

Pavel Efimovich Elyasberg - during the launch of the first Artificial Earth Satellite, he led the work on determining orbits and predicting the movement of the satellite based on measurement results.

Yan Lvovich Ziman - his PhD thesis, defended at MIIGAiK, was devoted to the issues of choosing orbits for satellites.

Georgy Ivanovich Petrov - together with S.P. Korolev and M.V. Keldysh, stood at the origins of astronautics.

Joseph Samuilovich Shklovsky is the founder of the school of modern astrophysics.

Georgy Stepanovich Narimanov - programs and methods of navigation and ballistic support for flight control of artificial earth satellites.

Konstantin Iosifovich Gringauz, the first artificial Earth satellite, launched in 1957, carried on board a radio transmitter created by a scientific and technical group led by K. I. Gringauz.

Yuri Ilyich Galperin - magnetospheric research.

Semyon Samoilovich Moiseev - plasma and hydrodynamics.

Vasily Ivanovich Moroz - Physics of planets and small bodies of the Solar system.

Satellite device

The satellite's body consisted of two power hemispherical shells with a diameter of 58.0 cm made of aluminum-magnesium alloy AMg-6 with a thickness of 2 mm with docking frames connected to each other by 36 M8 × 2.5 studs. Before launch, the satellite was filled with dry nitrogen gas at a pressure of 1.3 atmospheres. The tightness of the joint was ensured by a vacuum rubber gasket. The upper half-shell had a smaller radius and was covered with a hemispherical outer screen 1 mm thick to provide thermal insulation.

The surfaces of the shells were polished and processed to give them special optical properties. On the upper half-shell there were two corner vibrator antennas, facing backwards, located crosswise; each consisted of two arms-pins 2.4 m long (VHF antenna) and 2.9 m long (HF antenna), the angle between the arms in a pair was 70°; the shoulders were moved to the required angle using a spring
mechanism after separation from the launch vehicle. Such an antenna provided nearly uniform radiation in all directions, which was required for stable radio reception due to the fact that the satellite was unoriented. The design of the antennas was proposed by G. T. Markov (MPEI). On the front half-shell there were four sockets for mounting antennas with fittings
pressure seals and filling valve flange. On the rear half-shell there was a locking heel contact, which included an autonomous on-board power supply after separation of the satellite from the launch vehicle, as well as a test system connector flange.

Inside the sealed case were placed:

block of electrochemical sources (silver-zinc batteries); radio transmitting device; a fan that turns on from a thermal relay at temperatures above +30°C and turns off when the temperature drops to +20...23°C; thermal relay and air duct of the thermal control system;
switching device for on-board electrical automation; temperature and pressure sensors;
onboard cable network. Weight - 83.6 kg.

Flight parameters

The flight began on October 4, 1957 at 19:28:34 GMT.
End of flight - January 4, 1958.
The weight of the device is 83.6 kg.
Maximum diameter - 0.58 m.
Orbital inclination is 65.1°.
The orbital period is 96.2 minutes.
Perigee - 228 km.
Apogee - 947 km.
Vitkov - 1440.

Memory

In honor of the beginning of the space age of mankind, a 99-meter obelisk “To the Conquerors of Space” was opened in 1964 in Moscow on Mira Avenue.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, on October 4, 2007, a monument to the First Artificial Earth Satellite was unveiled in the city of Korolev on Kosmonavtov Avenue.

* * *

Picking up speed, the rocket confidently went up. Everyone who was involved in the launch of the satellite gathered at the launch pad. The nervous excitement did not subside. Everyone was waiting for the satellite to fly around the Earth and appear above the cosmodrome. “There is a signal,” came the speakerphone operator's voice.

At that same second, the clear, confident voice of the satellite poured out of the speaker over the steppe. Everyone applauded in unison. Someone shouted “Hurray!”, and the others echoed the victorious cry. Strong handshakes, hugs. An atmosphere of happiness reigned... Korolev looked around: Ryabinin, Keldysh, Glushko, Kuznetsov, Nesterenko, Bushuev, Pilyugin, Ryazansky, Tikhonravov. Everyone is here, everyone is nearby - “a mighty group in science and technology”, adherents of Tsiolkovsky’s ideas.

It seemed that the general jubilation of those gathered at those minutes on the launch pad was impossible to subdue. But then Korolev stood up on the makeshift podium. Silence reigned. He did not hide his joy: his eyes sparkled, his usually stern face glowed.

“Today what the best sons of humanity dreamed of, and among them our famous scientist Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky, has come true. He brilliantly predicted that humanity would not remain on Earth forever. The companion is the first confirmation of his prophecy. The assault on space has begun. We can be proud that our Motherland started it. Thank you very much to everyone!”

Here are reviews from the foreign press.

The Italian scientist Beniamino Segre, having learned about the satellite, said: “As a man and as a scientist, I am proud of the triumph of the human mind, emphasizing high level socialist science."

New York Times review: “The success of the USSR shows above all that this is the greatest feat of Soviet science and technology. Such a feat could only be achieved by a country with first-class facilities in a very wide field of science and technology.”

The statement of the German rocket scientist Hermann Oberth is interesting: “Only a country with enormous scientific and technical potential could successfully solve such a complex problem as launching the first Earth satellite. It was also necessary to have a considerable number of specialists. And the Soviet Union has them. I admire the talent of Soviet scientists."

The most profound assessment of what happened was given by the physicist and Nobel Prize laureate Frederic Joliot-Curie: “This is a great victory for man, which is a turning point in the history of civilization. Man is no longer chained to his planet."

In all the languages ​​of the world on this day they sounded: “space”, “sputnik”, “USSR”, “Russian scientists”.

In 1958, S.P. Korolev gives a report “On the lunar exploration program”, supervises the launch of a geophysical rocket with research equipment and two dogs in the descent vehicle, and participates in organizing the flight of the third artificial Earth satellite - the first scientific station. And a lot more scientific work was done under his leadership.

And finally, the triumph of science - April 12, 1961. Sergei Pavlovich Korolev - leader of the historical human flight into space. This day became an event in the history of mankind: for the first time a man defeated gravity and rushed into outer space... Then real courage and courage were required to board the “space ball,” as the ship “Vostok” was sometimes called, and, without thinking about one’s own fate, be carried away into the boundless starry space.

The day before, Korolev spoke to members of the State Commission: “Dear comrades! Less than four years have passed since the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, and we are already ready for the first human flight into space. There is a group of astronauts here, each of them is ready to fly. It was decided that Yuri Gagarin would fly first. Others will follow him in the near future. We have new flights coming up that will be interesting for science and for the benefit of humanity.”

Korolev's Martian project remained unfinished. New ones will come, those who will continue this project and lead their ships along the Milky Way to distant planets, to distant worlds...

On my own behalf, I can add that the heroes of science, who have imprinted Knowledge with their lives, bring and will continue to bring glory to the Fatherland.

Above us are the same skies as in ancient times,
And in the same way they pour their blessings upon us,
And miracles are happening these days,
And today there are prophets...

On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, ushering in the space age in human history.

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 Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Our correspondent was informed about this by the press service of Roscosmos.

The PS-1 spacecraft (the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters.

295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world.

“...On October 4, 1957, the first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR. According to preliminary data, the launch vehicle gave the satellite the required orbital speed of about 8,000 meters per second. Currently, the satellite describes elliptical trajectories around the Earth and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting Sun using simple optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.). According to calculations, which are now being refined by direct observations, the satellite will move at altitudes of 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 area twice - at 1 hour 46 minutes. at night and at 6 o'clock. 42 min. morning Moscow time. Messages about the subsequent movement of the first artificial satellite, launched in the USSR on October 4, will be transmitted regularly by broadcast radio stations. The satellite has the shape of a ball 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 about 15 and 7.5 meters, respectively). Transmitter powers ensure reliable reception of radio signals by a wide range of radio amateurs. The signals take the form of telegraphic messages lasting about 0.3 seconds. with a pause of the same duration. A signal of one frequency is sent during a pause of a signal of another frequency...”

Scientists M.V. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. worked on the creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics S.P. Korolev. Chekunov and many others. The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch. The launch of an artificial Earth satellite was of enormous importance for understanding the properties of outer space and studying the Earth as a planet in our solar system.

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 about the operating conditions of the equipment, which was very useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere was determined based on the braking of 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 talked about this event. In September 1967, the International Astronautical Federation proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the Beginning of the Human Space Age.

“The first great step of humanity is to fly out of the atmosphere and become a satellite of the Earth. The rest is relatively easy, up to the distance from our solar system.”

NEW SPACE AGE

On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, ushering in the space age in human history.

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 Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The PS-1 spacecraft (the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world.

The creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical astronautics S.P. Scientists M.V. worked with Korolev. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. Chekunov and many others.

The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.

The launch of an artificial Earth satellite was of enormous importance for understanding the properties of outer space and studying the Earth as a planet in our solar system. 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 about the operating conditions of the equipment, which was very useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere was determined based on the braking of 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 talked about this event.

In September 1967, the International Astronautical Federation proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the Beginning of the Human Space Age.

THE TRUTH ABOUT SATELLITE

“On October 4, 1957, the first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR. According to preliminary data, the launch vehicle gave the satellite the required orbital speed of about 8,000 meters per second. Currently, the satellite describes elliptical trajectories around the Earth and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting Sun using simple optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.).

According to calculations, which are now being refined by direct observations, the satellite will move at altitudes of 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 area twice - at 1 hour 46 minutes. at night and at 6 o'clock. 42 min. morning Moscow time. Messages about the subsequent movement of the first artificial satellite, launched in the USSR on October 4, will be transmitted regularly by broadcast radio stations.

The satellite has the shape of a ball 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 about 15 and 7.5 meters, respectively). Transmitter powers ensure reliable reception of radio signals by a wide range of radio amateurs. The signals take the form of telegraphic messages lasting about 0.3 seconds. with a pause of the same duration. A signal of one frequency is sent during a pause of a signal of another frequency...”

Sputnik: BAD IDEA

Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov was a man of incredible curiosity. Mathematics and many engineering disciplines, which he mastered at the Academy. N. E. Zhukovsky, did not dry up his romantic passion and penchant for fantastic thoughts. He painted landscapes in oils, collected a collection of woodcutter beetles, and studied the dynamics of insect flight, secretly hoping to discover a certain something in the beating of tiny wings. new principle to design incredible aircraft. He liked to mathematize dreams, and he received, perhaps, equal pleasure when calculations showed their reality, and when, on the contrary, they led to absurdity: he loved to find out. One day Tikhonravov decided to shortchange the artificial Earth satellite. Of course, he read Tsiolkovsky and knew that a single-stage rocket would not be able to put a satellite into orbit, he carefully studied his “Space Rocket Trains”, “The Highest Speed ​​of a Rocket” and other works in which the idea of ​​a multi-stage rocket was first theoretically substantiated, but he was interested in estimating various options for connecting these stages, see what all this adds up to on a scale, in short - decide how realistic the very idea of ​​​​obtaining the first cosmic speed needed by a satellite is at the current level of development of rocket technology. I started counting and became seriously interested. The defense research institute in which Mikhail Klavdievich worked was engaged in things incomparably more serious than an artificial Earth satellite, but to the credit of his boss, Alexei Ivanovich Nesterenko, all this unscheduled semi-fantastic work at the institute was not only not persecuted, but, on the contrary, was encouraged and supported by him, although it was not advertised in order to avoid accusations of project-making. Tikhonravov and a small group of his equally enthusiastic employees in 1947-1948, without any computers, did colossal calculation work and proved that there really is a real version of such a rocket package, which, in principle, can accelerate a certain load to the first cosmic speed.

In June 1948, the Academy of Artillery Sciences was preparing to hold a scientific session, and the institute where Tikhonravov worked received a paper asking what reports the research institute could present. Tikhonravov decided to report the results of his calculations on the satellite - an artificial Earth satellite. No one actively objected, but the topic of the report still sounded so strange, if not outlandish, that they decided to consult with the president of the artillery academy, Anatoly Arkadyevich Blagonravov.

Completely gray-haired at 54 years old, a handsome, exquisitely polite academician in the uniform of an artillery lieutenant general, surrounded by several of his closest employees, listened to the small delegation from the NIH very carefully. He understood that Mikhail Klavdievich’s calculations were correct, that all this was not Jules Verne or Herbert Wells, but he also understood something else: such a report would not grace the scientific session of the Artillery Academy.

“It’s an interesting question,” Anatoly Arkadyevich said in a tired, colorless voice, “but we won’t be able to include your report.” They will hardly understand us... They will accuse us of doing the wrong thing...

The people in uniform sitting around the president nodded in agreement.

When the small delegation of the research institute left, Blagonravov experienced some kind of mental discomfort. He worked a lot with the military and learned from them the generally useful rule of not revising decisions made, but then again and again he returned to Tikhonravov’s report and at home in the evening he thought about it again, he could not get rid of the thought that this report was frivolous really serious.

Tikhonravov was a real researcher and good engineer, but he was not a fighter. The AAN president's refusal upset him. At the research institute, its young employees, who had remained silent in the president’s office, now raised a clamor, in which, however, new serious arguments in favor of their report flashed.

Why were you silent there? - Mikhail Klavdievich got angry.

We must go again and persuade the general! - the youth decided.

And the next day they went again. There was an impression that Blagonravov seemed delighted at their arrival. He smiled and listened to the new arguments with half an ear. Then he said:

OK then. We will include the report in the session plan. Get ready - we'll blush together...

Then there was a report, and after the report, as Blagonravov expected, one very serious man of considerable rank asked Anatoly Arkadyevich, as if in passing, looking over his interlocutor’s head:

The institute probably has nothing to do, and that’s why you decided to move into the field of science fiction...

There were plenty of ironic smiles. But there were not only smiles. Sergei Korolev approached Tikhonravov without a smile and said, sternly speaking in his manner:

We need to have a serious conversation...

SATELLITE AS A WARNING

Few people in America have heard of a man named Sergei Pavlovich Korolev. However, it was thanks to him that NASA was created; It was thanks to him that we got to the moon. It was thanks to this mysterious Russian that federal loans appeared in our country for higher education; it was thanks to him that the National Games football league we can watch on DirecTV.

“Chief Designer” - these words became the name of Korolev, the real information about whom was a state secret Soviet Union, - almost single-handedly began the world rocket and space race. To a very large extent because of this stubborn man, a survivor of the Stalinist Gulag, although he lost all his teeth and almost his life in the Siberian camps, in 1960 the Republican Party lost the election to the White House, and Lyndon B. Johnson, on the contrary, passed along with John F. Kennedy and eventually became the thirty-sixth President of America.

For all these events are nothing more than even the largest consequences of the launch of the tiny Soviet Sputnik, created under the leadership of Korolev 50 years ago and launched into space on October 4, 1957. This launch caused panic in the United States, the consequences of which we feel until The main source of fear, however, was not this aluminum ball, but the huge carrier on which it flew into space - the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile. This 183-ton weapon gave the former Soviet Union the ability to destroy any city in a few minutes. Earth - at that time, this was an opportunity that no one had - for the first time in American history, its territory became vulnerable to attack by a foreign power.

SECOND SLAP TO AMERICA

Before the United States could respond in any way to the flight of Sputnik 1, a second satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit on November 3 of the same year.

Laika is a dog, the first living creature launched into Earth orbit. It was launched into space on November 3, 1957 at half past six in the morning Moscow time on the Soviet ship Sputnik-2. She was housed in a space kennel the size of washing machine. At that time, Laika was about two years old and weighed about 6 kilograms. Like many other animals in space, the dog died during the flight - 5-7 hours after launch, she died from stress and overheating. Although Laika failed to survive, the experiment confirmed that a living passenger could survive launch into orbit and weightlessness; Thus, Laika paved the way to space for people, including Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin. The first animals to return safely from space flight were the dogs Belka and Strelka.