
Currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Click to see full answer. Also asked, where is the Sputnik now? Several replicas of the Sputnik 1 satellite can be seen at museums in Russia and another is on display in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Is Sputnik 1 still in orbit?
The three satellites officially named as such - Sputnik 1, 2 and 3 all re-entered a few months after launch, so none of those is still in orbit. A number of satellites were designated Sputnik 4 - 25 in the West, although the Soviets never called them as such.
How big is Sputnik 1?
The chief constructor of Sputnik 1 at OKB-1 was Mikhail S. Khomyakov. The satellite was a 585-millimetre (23.0 in) diameter sphere, assembled from two hemispheres that were hermetically sealed with O-rings and connected by 36 bolts. It had a mass of 83.6 kilograms (184 lb).
How big was Sputnik 1?
The satellite weighed about 83 kg (184 pounds). The Sputnik 1 satellite was a 58.0 cm-diameter aluminum sphere that carried four whip-like antennas that were 2.4-2.9 m long. The antennas looked like long “whiskers” pointing to one side.
Is Sputnik a reliable news source?
Sputnik is an incredibly reliable news source. While the Western media and US government knock Sputnik, nobody is ever actually able to point to any stories of theirs that are incorrect. Newsweek tried a few years ago to publish an article debunki...
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Where was Sputnik launched?
Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR (now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome ).
What is the Sputnik 1?
For other uses, see Sputnik (disambiguation). Sputnik 1 ( / ˈspʌtnɪk, ˈspʊtnɪk /; "Satellite-1", or "PS-1", Простейший Спутник-1 or Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1, "Elementary Satellite-1") was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the USSR on 4 October 1957 as part ...
What was the impact of the launch of the Sputnik satellite?
The satellite's unanticipated success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, part of the Cold War. The launch was the beginning of a new era of political, military, technological and scientific developments. The word "sputnik" is Russian for satellite when interpreted in an astronomical context; its other meanings are spouse or traveling companion.
How did Sputnik 1 provide scientists with information?
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 .
What signal was detected at the IP-1 station?
These signals were detected at the IP-1 station by Junior Engineer-Lieutenant V.G. Borisov, where reception of Sputnik 1's "beep-beep-beep" tones confirmed the satellite's successful deployment.
How long did the Sputnik 1 battery last?
The signals continued for 21 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on 26 October 1957. Sputnik 1 burned up on 4 January 1958 while reentering Earth's atmosphere, after three months, 1,440 completed orbits of the Earth, and a distance travelled of about 7.0 × 10 7 km (4.3 × 10 7 mi).
Why did the Soviets use Sputnik?
When the Soviets began using Sputnik in their propaganda, they emphasized pride in the achievement of Soviet technology, arguing that it demonstrated the Soviets' superiority over the West. People were encouraged to listen to Sputnik's signals on the radio and to look out for Sputnik in the night sky. While Sputnik itself had been highly polished, its small size made it barely visible to the naked eye. What most watchers actually saw was the much more visible 26-metre core stage of the R-7. Shortly after the launch of PS-1, Khrushchev pressed Korolev to launch another satellite to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution, on 7 November 1957.
When was Sputnik 1 launched?
A2A As others before me have mentioned, Sputnik 1 was launched October 4, 1957 and burned up in the atmosphere on reentry after completing 1,440 orbits on January 4, 1958.
Where was Sputnik IV recovered?
Sputnik IV, on the other hand, was apparently recovered. A brass ring embedded in a road in Manitowoc, Wis., marks the exact spot where a chunk of it landed in 1962.
How did Sputnik 1 differ from other satellites?
Sputnik 1 differed fron other satellites first and foremost by being first. The very first artificial earth satellite. It wasn’t even supposed to exist. Sergei Korolev, Russia's chief proponent for space exploration and his longtime colleague Mikhail Tikhonravov were planning to make Russia's first satellite a major scientific instrument package. It would carry no fewer than twelve devices for investigating earth's magnetic field, solar radiation, cosmic radiation, the makeup of the ionosphere, and other phenomena. It was called Object D. It would weigh nearly 3,000 pounds. It would be launched into orbit by a modified version of Korolev's mighty S-7 intercontinental ballistic missile. Well, the rocket would be ready by October 1957. But Object D was six months behind schedule. So, sometime around August 1957, Korolev instructed Tikhonravov to put together a stripped down no nonsense device with no scientific instruments at all. Just a radio and battery so that it could make known to all the world its presence in earth orbit. So Tikhonravov assembled his radio and batteries and installed them in a 23 inch diameter aluminium sphere. Four six foot long antennae trailed from the circunference of the sphere. Simplicity itself. It weighed 183 pounds. Korolev named it Sputnik, which means companion or fellow traveler in Russian. Two working Sputniks were built. One for orbit, and a backup that would remain on earth. Korolev told the technicians who were building the backup, “Be sure to polish it brightly, because it will be in a museum.” On Friday, October 3, 1957, the S-7 blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and deposited Sputnik into orbit, inaugurating the space age for humanity and the space race between the USA and the USSR. That same evening, in America, the TV sitcom “Leave it to Beaver” debuted on CBS. The next day, Edward Teller, designer of America's H-bomb, referred to Sputnik 1 as “a technological Pearl Harbor.” So Sputnik 1, although it made no scientific investigations let alone discoveries, shocked the world, especially America. It led to Congressional investigations into the shortcomings of America's education system. How could a supposedly backward nation of peasants possibly perform a high tech feat before America? Sputnik 1 led directly to the National Defense Education Act, which offered low interest college loans to American kids like me. Sputnik 1 also led directly to the the creation of NASA , which was meant to coordinate America's space exploration efforts to catch up with and beat the Russians in the space race. NASA opened for business one year after Sputnik, on October 8, 1958. So, far beyond its technological accomplishments, Sputnik 1 affected the world as no other satellite has done or ever will do.
How long did Sputnik stay in space?
Sputnik, the ultimate "shot heard round the world", was only barely in space, and remained in orbit for barely three months before burning up during re-entry on Jan. 4, 1958. It might be an exaggeration to say its molecules are evenly distributed across the Earth--but certainly over a very wide swathe.
What was the goal of the Space Race?
In 1962, President Kennedy made a declaration of a goal to send a human to the moon and return him safely to the Earth. Whether the Soviet Union was seriously engaged in this aspect of the space-race is a subject for debate. However, with a set goal, the U.S. poured all effort to achieving the mission, and it was achieved ahead of any Soviet effort. So, we declared ourselves the “winner” of the space-race. In reality, what we achieved was a balance of power. Neither held the “high ground.” Treaties were signed for the peaceful use of space. No nation was allowed to claim the Moon or planets. No weapons were allowed to be placed in orbit, etc. Treaties las as long as all parties continue to agree to the terms. So, we will see how long these treaties last in the current world political environment.
What was the Soviet Union like after WWII?
Let me answer as one who lived through that time. Following WWII there was the idea that we were the superior nation. We had the best economy, the best system of education, the best science, etc. The Soviet Union was a country that was closed to us. It was secretive, its science was disputed in the west, and to the citizenry of the U.S., dubious. We were striving for the high ground of space to assert our authority over the rest of the world.
What was the first satellite called?
Russia, at that time known as the ‘Soviet Union’ launched the first ever satellite, therefore the name ‘Sputnik’ was simply what a satellite is called in Russian, since it was the first one to come to life. If you look for a translation of the word satellite in Russian, you will receive ‘Sputnik’ as the answer.
How long did it take for Sputnik to launch?
History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. 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 ...
What was the significance of the Sputnik launch?
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.
Where is Sputnik Planitia?
Sputnik Planitia lies mostly in the northern hemisphere, but extends across the planet's equator . If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material. Russian space exploration sputnik Space.
Why was Sputnik launched?
1. Sputnik was launched to coincide with the International Geophysical Year. The International Council of Scientific Unions thought the solar period that year would be ideal for launching manmade satellites to study Earth and the solar system. 2.
How far away was the Soviet satellite from Earth?
The Soviet satellite was visible with binoculars before sunrise and after sunset. Its farthest point from Earth was around 940 km (584 miles), while its perigee was 230 km (143 miles). 3. Sputnik transmitted radio signals to Earth strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators.
How long did the Sputnik satellite last?
Sputnik was powered by three silver-zinc batteries designed to operate for two weeks, but the satellite continued sending out radio signals for 22 days. Sputnik eventually burned up in the atmosphere on Jan. 4, 1958. 6. The Sputnik crisis was a period of public fear and anxiety in western nations.
What was the Sputnik crisis?
6. The Sputnik crisis was a period of public fear and anxiety in western nations. There were fears that the Soviets would create ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons from Eastern Europe to the U.S. Sputnik facilitated the creation of NASA. The term was coined by then U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower.
Who coined the term "Sputnik Planitia"?
The term was coined by then U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. 7. An ice-covered basin on Pluto, Sputnik Planitia, was named after the world’s first satellite. It measures about 1,050 km by 800 km (650 miles by 500 miles).
What is the first artificial satellite?
7 facts about Sputnik 1, Earth's first artificial satellite. A Sputnik 1 test satellite displayed at the Museum of Flight. On Oct. 4, 1957, humanity entered the space age with the launch of Sputnik 1 , the world’s first manmade satellite.
When was Sputnik launched?
Find out how to celebrate World Space Week 2020 here. Read on below to see photos of Sputnik and its legacy! The launch the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957 kicked off the space age and the Cold War space race, the latter of which peaked when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the surface ...
How big was the Sputnik 1?
Sputnik 1 weighed 184 lbs. (83 kilograms) and was 23 inches (58 centimeters) wide. (This measure refers to the satellite's body; Sputnik 1 also featured two double-barreled antennas, the larger of which was 12.8 feet, or 3.9 meters, long.) So, the satellite was quite small compared to the spacecraft of today, such as NASA's Cassini Saturn orbiter, ...
What was the significance of Sputnik 1?
Sputnik 1 led to the creation of NASA and DARPA. The launch of Sputnik 1 famously shook the United States. "As a technical achievement, Sputnik caught the world's attention and the American public off guard," NASA historians wrote in 2007, in a piece marking the milestone's 50-year anniversary.
What happened to the Sputnik 1 rocket?
The launch almost failed. APA/Getty. Sputnik 1 came perilously close to suffering the same fate as the United States' TV3 satellite, which was destroyed in a launch failure on Dec. 6, 1957. Sputnik 1 was lofted by an R-7 rocket, which consisted of four first-stage boosters — known as Blocks B, V, G and D — strapped onto a core second stage ...
How long did Sputnik 1 last?
The batteries exceeded expectations, as the satellite continued sending out its radio signal for 22 days.
What was the first satellite?
Sputnik 1! 7 Fun Facts About Humanity's First Satellite. Click here for more Space.com videos... Each year, the first week of October kicks off the United Nation's World Space Week, which celebrates the world's achievements in space since the dawn of the Space Age on Oct. 4, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite.
How far away is Sputnik?
Sputnik 1 eventually settled into an elliptical orbit, which took the satellite as close to Earth's surface as 142 miles (228 kilometers) and as far away as 588 miles (947 km). The satellite zipped around Earth every 96 minutes.
When did Sputnik 1 come out?
Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957, and just three months later, it spontaneously de-orbited and fell back to Earth. The particles from our atmosphere rise far above any artificial line we've drawn, affecting all of our Earth-orbiting satellites. The farther your perigee is, the longer you can remain up there, but the harder it becomes to send-and-receive signals from here on the surface. Until we have a fuel-free technology to passively boost our satellites to keep them in a more stable orbit, Earth's atmosphere will continue to be the most destructive force to humanity's presence in space.
When was the first Sputnik launched?
The three men responsible for the success of Explorer 1, America's first Earth satellite which was ...
Why did Sputnik 1 fall back to Earth?
Sputnik 1 fell back to Earth due to atmospheric drag, a problem that plagues all low-Earth-orbiting satellites even today. On October 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, which rose up above Earth's atmosphere and entered orbit around our planet, circumnavigating it one every 90 minutes. Under the extremely low light pollution conditions ...
How fast can you go in space?
But if you're a spacecraft, you experience something very different. The reasons are as follows: 1 You're not just rising up from the Earth, but orbiting it, meaning you're moving in a different direction to the tenuous atmospheric particles. 2 Because you're in a stable orbit, you have to be moving quickly: around 7 km/s (5 miles-per-second) to remain in space. 3 And you're no longer just the size of an atom or molecule, but rather the size of a spacecraft.
What would happen if Hubble's mirror landed?
Heavy, solid objects, like Hubble's primary mirror, could easily cause significant amounts of damage or even kill, depending on where those chunks landed. ESA.
Is Sputnik still in orbit?
But Sputnik itself isn't in orbit around Earth any longer. In fact, it was so short-lived that by time the United States successfully launched Explorer 1, the first American satellite in space, Sputnik 2, carrying the first animal in space, had already been orbiting Earth for months. But the original Sputnik, after over 1400 orbits, had already fallen back to Earth.

Overview
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 as part of the Soviet space program. It orbited for three weeks before its batteries ran out. The satellite then silently continued to orbit the planet for two months before it fell back into the atmosphere on the 4th of January 1958.
Etymology
Спутник-1, romanized as Sputnik-Odin (pronounced [ˈsputʲnʲɪk.ɐˈdʲin]), means 'Satellite-One'. The Russian word for satellite, sputnik, was coined in the 18th century by combining the prefix s- ('together') and putnik ('traveler'), thereby meaning 'fellow traveler', a meaning corresponding to the Latin root satelles ('guard, attendant or companion'), which is the origin of English satellite. In the Russian language, sputnik is the general term for the artificial satellites of any country and the nat…
Before the launch
On 17 December 1954, chief Soviet rocket scientist Sergei Korolev proposed a developmental plan for an artificial satellite to the Minister of the Defense Industry, Dimitri Ustinov. Korolev forwarded a report by Mikhail Tikhonravov, with an overview of similar projects abroad. Tikhonravov had emphasized that the launch of an orbital satellite was an inevitable stage in the development of roc…
Design
The chief constructor of Sputnik 1 at OKB-1 was Mikhail S. Khomyakov. The satellite was a 585-millimetre (23.0 in) diameter sphere, assembled from two hemispheres that were hermetically sealed with O-rings and connected by 36 bolts. It had a mass of 83.6 kilograms (184 lb). The hemispheres were 2 mm thick, and were covered with a highly polished 1 mm-thick heat shield made of an alu…
Launch and mission
The control system of the Sputnik rocket was adjusted to an intended orbit of 223 by 1,450 km (139 by 901 mi), with an orbital period of 101.5 minutes. The trajectory had been calculated earlier by Georgi Grechko, using the USSR Academy of Sciences' mainframe computer.
The Sputnik rocket was launched on 4 October 1957 at 19:28:34 UTC (5 Octobe…
Reception
Our movies and television programs in the fifties were full of the idea of going into space. What came as a surprise was that it was the Soviet Union that launched the first satellite. It is hard to recall the atmosphere of the time.— John Logsdon
The Soviets provided details of Sputnik 1 before the launch, but few outside th…
Our movies and television programs in the fifties were full of the idea of going into space. What came as a surprise was that it was the Soviet Union that launched the first satellite. It is hard to recall the atmosphere of the time.— John Logsdon
The Soviets provided details of Sputnik 1 before the launch, but few outside th…
Legacy
On Friday, 4 October 1957, the Soviets had orbited the world's first artificial satellite. Anyone who doubted its existence could walk into the backyard just after sunset and see it.— Mike Gray, Angle of Attack
Initially, U.S. President Eisenhower was not surprised by Sputnik 1. He had been forewarned of the R-7's capabilities by information derived from U-2 spy plane o…
Backup units and replicas
At least two vintage duplicates of Sputnik 1 exist, built apparently as backup units. One resides just outside Moscow in the corporate museum of Energia, the modern descendant of Korolev's design bureau, where it is on display by appointment only. Another is in the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Unlike Energia's unit, it has no internal components, but it does have casings a…