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| Sputnik 1 | |
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| Organization: | Soviet Union |
| Major contractors: | OKB-1, Soviet Ministry of Radiotechnical Industry |
| Mission type: | Atmospheric studies |
| Satellite of: | Earth |
| Launch date: | 19:28:34, October 4, 1957 (UTC) (1957-10-04T19:28:34Z) (22:28:34 MSK) |
| Decay: | 4 January 1958 |
| Mission duration: | 3 months |
| NSSDC ID: | 1957-001B |
| Webpage: | NASA NSSDC Master Catalog |
| Mass: | 83.6 kg (184.3 lb) |
| Semimajor axis: | 6,955.2 km (4,321.8 mi) |
| Eccentricity: | 0.05201 |
| Inclination: | 65.1° |
| Orbital period: | 96.2 minutes |
| Apoapsis: | 7,310 km (4,540 mi) from centre, 939 km (583 mi) from surface |
| Periapsis: | 6,586 km (4,092 mi) from centre, 215 km (134 mi) from surface |
| Orbits: | 1,440 |
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Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to go around the Earth. It was made by the Soviet Union. It was launched on 4 October 1957 at Baikonur Cosmodrome. It orbited (went around) the Earth for three months. It carried a radio transmitter. It did 1,440 orbits of the Earth during this time. It went down into Earth's atmosphere on 4 January 1958 and burned up.
The United States was very surprised when the Soviet Union sent Sputnik 1 into space. It did not want to fall behind. So, it began spending more money on science and education. This was when the Space Race between the Soviet Union and the United States began.
The word Sputnik comes from the Russian Спутник, literally travelling companion. It is pronounced IPA: ['sput.nik] or IPA: ['sput.nık], not 'spʌt.nık.
This metal arming key is the last remaining piece of the first Sputnik satellite. It prevented contact between the batteries and the transmitter prior to launch. Currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
30k USSR postage stamp depicting Sputnik 1
Some R-7 variants
A replica of Sputnik 1 at the U.S. National Air and Space Museum
Artist's impression of Sputnik 1 in orbit
Soviet 40 kopeks stamp, showing satellite's orbit
Sputnik replica at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas
