57 years ago, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched

On October 4, 1957, the USSR launched the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit. The satellite was called PS-1, and it was launched into orbit by the R-7 carrier rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Then this spaceport was called the research site of the USSR Ministry of Defense.

The satellite itself was small, its diameter is 58 centimeters, and the satellite weighed 83.6 kilograms. PS-1 was equipped with four antennas (thanks to which he got his recognizable appearance), in order to transmit signals. The device consisted of two polished aluminum (or rather, an aluminum alloy was used) hemispheres, which were interconnected by bolts. The edges were sealed with a rubber gasket.

Inside the satellite there was a power supply (silver-zinc batteries weighing 50 kilograms), as well as a transmitter, a fan, a temperature control system, and various sensors.

Almost immediately after the separation of the satellite from the second stage of the launch vehicle, the PS-1 began to transmit a signal that was heard not only by experts, but also by amateur radio enthusiasts in almost all countries. From this moment, the countdown of the cosmic era of mankind began. Since then, a lot of things will happen, there will be good luck and disaster. But there are still more winning projects.


Solemn article in Pravda dedicated to successful launch

Satellite flight parameters:

• The flight starts on October 4, 1957 at 19:28:34 GMT.
• End of flight - January 4, 1958
• The mass of the device is 83.6 kg;
• The maximum diameter is 0.58 m.
• The inclination of the orbit is 65.1 °.
• The circulation period is 96.7 minutes.
• Perigee - 228 km.
• Apogee - 947 km.
• Vitkov - 1440

Now on Mars and around it, devices are operating, the complexity of which is an order of magnitude, if not more, greater than the complexity of the PS-1 design. “Voyager” has gone beyond the limits of the solar system, “Cassini” is exploring Titan and Saturn, orbiting telescopes are working in open space. But according to the significance of the event, the launch of the first satellite is only comparable with the flight of a person into space. It remains only to wish that the space industry and the sciences associated with it continue to develop, and people pay more attention to space than the display of their fashionable smartphone.