Sputnik, any of a series of three artificial Earth satellites, the first of whose launch by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957, inaugurated the space age. Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite launched, was a 83.6-kg (184-pound) capsule.
What is a Sputnik in space?
What was the main purpose of a Sputnik?
Sputnik's official designation was “PS-1” or “Elementary Satellite 1” in Russian. The satellite was launched from what is now called the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct. 4, 1957. The 184.3-pound (83.6 kg) craft's primary function was to place a radio transmitter into orbit around the Earth.
Is Sputnik still in space?
And though it only blasted off some six months after the Soviet's Sputnik satellite, Vanuguard 1 still remains in orbit — more than 60 years later. This makes Vanguard Earth's longest-orbiting artificial satellite, as well as the oldest human-made object still in space. And that's not likely to change any time soon.
Does Sputnik do anything?
Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information. The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave data about the ionosphere.
Is Sputnik a rocket?
The Sputnik rocket was an uncrewed orbital carrier rocket designed by Sergei Korolev in the Soviet Union, derived from the R-7 Semyorka ICBM. On 4 October 1957, it was used to perform the world's first satellite launch, placing Sputnik 1 into a low Earth orbit.
How did Sputnik change the world?
Sputnik made it possible to test satellite pressurisation, to study radio wave transmission and the density of the atmosphere, and allowed scientists to learn how to track objects in orbit. Sputnik 1 orbited Earth every 96 minutes, and the fact that it passed over the USA seven times a day worried many Americans.
Who made the satellite?
the Soviet Union October, 1957: Soviets launch first artificial satellite into Earth orbit. Fifty years ago, on October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made satellite, shocking the American public and beginning the Space Age.
Why is Sputnik in the Smithsonian?
The launch of Sputnik transported the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union to a new arena and began the Space Race. A private collector, who purchased the music box while on a trip to the Soviet Union in 1964, donated the Sputnik Music box to the museum in 1985.
What happened to Sputnik dog?
Laika, a stray mongrel from the streets of Moscow, was selected to be the occupant of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 that was launched into low orbit on 3 November 1957. … Laika died within hours from overheating, possibly caused by a failure of the central R-7 sustainer to separate from the payload.