Sputnik 2 facts for kids
| Mission type | Bioscience |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| Harvard designation | 1957 Beta 1 |
| Mission duration | 162 days |
| Orbits completed | 2570 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 508.3 kilograms (1,121 lb) (payload only) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | November 3, 1957, 02:30:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Sputnik 8K71PS |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | April 14, 1958 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 7,306 kilometres (4,540 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0990965 |
| Perigee | 211 kilometres (131 mi) |
| Apogee | 1,659 kilometres (1,031 mi) |
| Inclination | 65.3 degrees |
| Period | 103.73 minutes |
| Epoch | 3 November 1957 |
Sputnik 2 was a spacecraft from the Soviet Union. It was the second spacecraft launched as part of the Sputnik programme. This mission was very important because it was the first time a living animal, a dog named Laika, traveled into space. Sputnik 2 blasted off on November 3, 1957, from a place called Baikonur Cosmodrome. Sadly, scientists believe Laika died just a few hours after launch because the spacecraft got too hot. Sputnik 2 orbited Earth for about five months. It fell back into Earth's atmosphere on April 14, 1958, and burned up.
Contents
What Sputnik 2 Looked Like
Sputnik 2 was about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. Its base was 2 meters (6.6 feet) wide. It was shaped like a cone. Inside, it had different sections for its equipment.
Inside the Spacecraft
The spacecraft carried many important parts. It had radio transmitters to send signals back to Earth. There was also a telemetry system. This system sent data about the spacecraft's condition. A programming unit helped control the mission. It also had systems to control the temperature. These systems were very important for keeping the spacecraft cool. Scientific tools were also on board.
Laika's Special Area
Laika, the dog, had her own special area inside Sputnik 2. This part was designed to keep her safe and comfortable. Scientists wanted to study how a living being would react to space travel.
The Mission's Journey
Sputnik 2 launched on November 3, 1957. It quickly reached low Earth orbit. This means it circled relatively close to Earth. The spacecraft completed 2570 orbits around our planet. It traveled at an amazing speed.
Orbit Details
Sputnik 2's orbit was not a perfect circle. At its highest point, called the apoapsis, it was about 1659 kilometers (1031 miles) from Earth. At its lowest point, called the periapsis, it was about 211 kilometers (131 miles) away. Each trip around Earth took about 103.73 minutes.
End of the Mission
After orbiting Earth for 162 days, Sputnik 2's mission ended. On April 14, 1958, the spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere. As it fell through the air, it heated up very quickly. This caused the spacecraft to burn up.
Images for kids
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USSR postage stamp "Спутник-2"
See also
In Spanish: Sputnik 2 para niños
