To start off this series, it seems best to discuss Sputnik 1, the first man-made object to orbit the earth.

Overview

Equipped with four antennae and a 22-day battery life, Sputnik 1 (often referred to as simply Sputnik) launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on October 4, 1957 atop a modified ICBM. Once in orbit, Sputnik’s transmitter broadcast constantly until it ran out of power. People around the world tuned in to hear the craft’s signal, and its success had equally global impacts on international relations.

Mission Report

Sputnik, massing 83.6 kilograms, was essentially a metal sphere with antennae attached. These antennae ensured that the broadcast signal would transmit with equal strength in all directions. Due to time constraints from wanting to have the first satellite, scientific instruments were replaced with a simple transmitter, massing 3.5 kg. It produced 300 millisecond beeps on the 20 and 40 MHz wavelengths. The signal could also be modulated by on-board systems; a thermal switch changed the pulse length if it were too hot (50° C) or too cold (0° C), and a barometric switch would have had the same effect if internal pressure fell below 130 kPa. Though simple, the craft’s broadcasts were used to gain information about the ionosphere.

The probe rode to orbit atop a Sputnik 8K71PS, a modified version of the Soviet R-7 ICBM. Massing 267 metric tonnes and capable of taking a 500 kilogram payload to Low Earth Orbit, the rocket had two stages. Using four RD-107 engines and Liquid Oxygen/Kerosene for fuel, the boosters burned for 120 seconds at a total of 3.89 MN before detaching. The core stage, powered by a single RD-108 and using the same fuel mix, burned for 310 seconds at 970 kN, putting the craft into orbit with an apogee of 939 km and a perigee of 215 km. Upon second stage separation, the probe’s transmitter was activated and began broadcasting. A 51 kg silver-zinc battery powered the transmitter and temperature control system for 22 days before it was depleted. The craft’s 8100 m/s orbit steadily decayed, which was used to calculate drag in the upper atmosphere. Sputnik re-entered the atmosphere after 92 days in space and 1440 completed orbits.

Historical Significance

As the first spacecraft to orbit the Earth, Sputnik holds both scientific and historical significance. The sheer challenge Sergei Korolev and other scientists faced when doing what had never been done before is not something to dismiss. Sputnik paved the way for future Soviet probes, including Sputnik 2, which carried the first animal into orbit. Additionally, the craft provided information on the atmosphere which was used in the design of later spacecrafts.

However, arguably the most significant impact of Sputnik was the sparking of a competition between the US and Soviet Union. A successful one-of-a-kind mission pushed the Soviet Union ahead of the US in terms of technological achievement. The achievement planted doubt into the minds of US citizens and gave the American government even more reason to rush the development of a spacecraft. Vanguard Test Vehicle 3’s dramatic launch failure only furthered disappointment in US space ventures. Sputnik ultimately led to the Space Race, a conflict to which technology is very much in debt.

Conclusion

Sputnik’s scientific and historical impact changed the world of spaceflight in major ways, and the Space Race it started eventually led to huge technological advancements. Rating: 10/10