Sputnik: 50 years down the line
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October 4, 1957 is a red-letter day in the history of the Earth. For it was on this day that the Soviet Union launched a basketball sized spacecraft signaling man's ability to venture where no one had gone before.
The direct result of the Sputnik launch was that the United States was forced to reshuffle its priorities. This event also resulted in the birth of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). Dr A A Blagonravov was thought to be the man behind the successful launch of the Sputnik.
But the circumstances of the Sputnik launch are shrouded in mystery. In 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions announced that July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958, would be established as the International Geophysical Year (IGY).
The White House expressed interest in launching an Earth-orbiting satellite in this year and plans were made toward the same. However the Soviets caught the world by surprise with their launch.
That Sputnik changed the world's history is no new revelation, but it must be remembered that in the late 1950s the Cold War was at its peak and Americans became frightened that with satellite-launching capabilities, the Soviets may just acquire nuke-launching ones as well.
The 50th anniversary of Sputnik is special because it shows us what we have achieved in a short span of time. However the launch anniversary also tells us that we still have a long way to go!
Copyright,
respective author or news agency
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How far is this correct ??
By:
Rana deep Bhattacharyya ,
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:11:53 GMT
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As far reading the document of yours sir,I just want to clear one thing for myself as you people working on this will be knowledgeable enough to provide me with some answer.
I just want to know that the asteroid impact in 2039,will it definitely "HIT THE OCEAN " or was that only to tell people that there is nothing to worry about.If that hits the ocean what will be the impact on the shores and will it engulf the territory ?
How far NASA working on this to avoid the disaster to happen."ARMAGADDON"(sorry,if i misspelt it) is my favourite and i want something to happen like that,is that possible.
Eagerly waiting for your response .
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How long was it in orbit?
By:
Corey B. ,
Thu, 04 Oct 2007 21:56:39 GMT
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If you are like me, then you were asking this same question. Well I have take the liberty to tell you a little more about this little space craft with information taken from Wikipedia... Here you go:
The big satellite helped to identify the density of high atmospheric layers by its orbit change and provided data on radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere. Because the satellite's body was filled with pressurized nitrogen, Sputnik 1 also provided the first opportunity for meteorite detection, as losses in internal pressure due to meteoroid penetration of the outer surface would have been evident in the temperature data. The unanticipated announcement of Sputnik 1's success precipitated the Sputnik crisis in the United States and ignited the so-called Space Race within the Cold War.
Sputnik-1 was set in motion during the International Geophysical Year from the 5th Tyuratam range in Kazakh SSR (now Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite travelled at 29,000 kilometers (18,000 mi) per hour and emitted radio signals at around 20.005 and 40.002 MHz[1] which were monitored by Amateur radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 22 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on October 26, 1957.[2] Sputnik 1 burned as it fell from orbit upon reentering Earth's atmosphere, after traveling about 60 million km (37 million miles) in orbit.
Corey B.
www.MyBlurps.com
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sputnik
By:
Adrienne ,
Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:44:01 GMT
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sweeeeeet, go sputink
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