Sputnik: the first artificial satellite

History changed on 4th October 1957, to be exact — a 100-tonne modified Soviet rocket blasted off from Kazakhstan carrying a small metal ball (58 cm. or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, equipped with only a couple of simple radio transmitters and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path.- the world’s first satellite. Known as Sputnik (‘Companion’ or ‘Satellite’), the basketball-sized sphere became a sensation as it circled the planet transmitting a ‘beep beep’ signal. The world was never the same again.

That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. 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. Since then, spaceflight technologies have grown up. High-performance rocket fuels, miniaturized guidance electronics and ultra-light spacecraft materials, to name a few, make frequent and complex trips to space possible.

Half a century after Sputnik, space technology is part of our everyday lives. We rely on satellites for TV and long-distance phone calls, weather forecasting, navigation and disaster monitoring. Space observatories are studying the birth of planets, stars, galaxies and the Universe itself. Spacecraft have visited almost every major body in the Solar System. And 12 people have walked on the Moon.


Sputnik program
The Sputnik program was a series of unmanned space missions launched by the Soviet Union in late 1957 to demonstrate the practicability of artificial satellites for exploring the upper atmosphere as part of the International Geophysical Year. It included Sputnik 1, the first man-made object to orbit earth.
The Russian name "Спутник" means literally "co-traveler","traveling companion" or "satellite", and its R-7 launch vehicle was designed initially to carry nuclear warheads.
The surprise launch of Sputnik 1, coupled with the spectacular failure of the United States' first two Project Vanguard launch attempts, shocked the United States, which responded with a number of early satellite launches, including Explorer I, Project SCORE, and Courier 1B. The Sputnik crisis also led to the creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA and NASA, and to major increases in U.S. government spending on scientific research and education.

Early flights
Sputnik 1 was launched on October 4, 1957. The satellite was 58 cm (about 23 in) in diameter and weighed approximately 83.6 kg (about 183 lb). Each of its elliptical orbits around the Earth took about 96 minutes. Monitoring of the satellite was done by Amateur radio operators. 
Sputnik 2 was launched on November 3, 1957 and carried the first living passenger into orbit, a dog named Laika. The mission planners did not provide for the safe return of the spacecraft or its passenger, making Laika the first orbital casualty. This mission was promptly dubbed "Muttnick" by US humorists. 
The first attempt to launch Sputnik 3, on February 3, 1958, failed, but the second on May 15 succeeded, and it carried a large array of instruments for geophysical research. Its tape recorder failed, however, making it unable to measure the Van Allen radiation belts.
Sputnik 4 was launched two years later, on May 15, 1960.
Sputnik 5 was launched on August 19, 1960 with the dogs Belka and Strelka, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants on board. The spacecraft returned to earth the next day and all animals were recovered safely.
Sputnik 40 and Sputnik 41
Sputnik 40, also called Sputnik PS2, Radio Sputnik 17 and Mini-Sputnik, was a 1⁄3-scale model amateur radio satellite launched from the Mir space station on 3 November 1997 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Sputnik 1. The spacecraft body resembled Sputnik 1 and was built by students at the Polytechnic Laboratory of Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria. The transmitter was built by students from Jules Reydellet College in Réunion, with technical support from AMSAT-France. Its batteries expired on 29 December 1997 and the VHF transmitter fell silent. 
Sputnik 41 was launched a year later, on 10 November 1998. It also carried a transmitter.


Next 50 years…

If the last 50 years mark the beginning of a new era for the human race, who knows what will be achieved in the next half century? This October will mark the 50th anniversary of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite of Earth. Fifty years from now, scientists, explorers – even tourists, I expect – will be on Mars, will be cruising through the asteroid belt, and will be beginning the exploration of Jupiter and the outer planets. Perhaps you will be one of the first people to spend a holiday on the Moon or set foot on Mars.

Thilina Heenatigala
General Secretary
Sri Lanka Astronomical Association

Instructor
Royal College Astronomical Society