Sputnik 3

Sputnik 3
Mission type Earth Science
Operator OKB-1
Harvard designation 1958 Delta 2
SATCAT № 8
Website NASA NSSDC Master Catalog
Mission duration 692 days
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Korolev Design Bureau
Launch mass 1,327 kilograms (2,926 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date May 15, 1958, 07:12:00 (1958-05-15UTC07:12Z) UTC
Rocket Sputnik 8A91
Launch site Baikonur 1/5
End of mission
Decay date April 6, 1960
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Low Earth
Semi-major axis 7,418.7 kilometres (4,609.8 mi)
Eccentricity 0.110932
Perigee 217 kilometres (135 mi)
Apogee 1,864 kilometres (1,158 mi)
Inclination 65.18°
Period 105.9 minutes
Epoch 15 May 1958 07:12:00 UTC
Instruments
Upper Atmosphere : Composition of the upper atmosphere
Geiger counters : Charged particles
Micrometeoroid detectors : Micrometeoroids
Universal newsreel about the Soviet Union's Industrial Exhibition in 1958 featuring a replica of Sputnik 3

Sputnik 3 (Russian: Спутник-3, Satellite 3) was a Soviet satellite launched on May 15, 1958 from Baikonur cosmodrome by a modified R-7/SS-6 ICBM. It was a research satellite to explore the upper atmosphere and the near space and carried a large array of instruments for geophysical research.

Stamp

Sputnik 3 was the only Soviet satellite launched in 1958. Like its American counterpart, Vanguard 1, Sputnik 3 had succeeded in making it into orbit during the IGY.[1]

History

In July 34 the Soviet Union's OKB-1 drafted a project to design and build the first Earth satellite, designated ISZ (Artificial Earth Satellite). ISZ was known to its designers as "Object D."[2] Design of Object D had begun in January 1956 with intent to launch it during the International Geophysical Year.[3] Object D was planned to be the first satellite launched by the Soviet Union but ended up being the third following delays due to problems developing the extensive scientific experiments and their telemetry system.[4] The new R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile, also known by its GURVO designation 8K71,[5] was ready to launch before Object D was finished. Worried at the prospect of America launching a satellite before he did, Sergei Korolev substituted the relatively simple "Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1" meaning "Simple Satellite 1", or PS-1, which was labeled Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Government, as the first satellite to be launched instead. The Sputnik 2 (PS-2) was also ready and launched earlier than Object D.

Launch

Sputnik 3 was launched by a modified R-7 Semyorka missile developed for satellite launches, the Sputnik 8K91.[6]

The launch was planned for 22 April, Lenin's birthday, but technical delays meant that several more days were needed. On 27 April, the 8A91 booster lifted from LC-1 and all appeared normal for over a minute into the launch. Around 1-1/2 minutes, things went awry. The strap-on boosters broke away from the core and the entire launch vehicle tumbled to earth 141 miles (224 kilometers) downrange. Ground crews reading the incoming telemetry data from the booster noticed the trajectory angle change to negative numbers, followed by a complete loss of signal.

Telemetry data indicated that abnormal vibrations began affecting the booster at T+90 seconds and vehicle breakup occurred seven seconds later. A search plane located the impact site. It was not clear what had caused the vibrations, but the decision was made to go ahead with the backup booster and satellite. The engines would be throttled down at T+85 seconds in the hope of reducing structural loads. Since the booster did not carry sufficient instrumentation to determine the source of the vibrations, which ultimately proved to be a phenomenon resulting from the propellant tanks emptying, it would end up being a recurring problem on lunar probe launches later in the year.

The satellite had separated from the launch vehicle and was recovered near the crash site largely intact. It was taken back to the Baikonour Cosmodrome for refurbishment, but an electrical short started a fire inside the electronics compartment and it could not be reused.

The backup booster and satellite were launched successfully on the morning of 15 May, specifically chosen as it was the anniversary of the R-7's maiden flight. On the downside, telemetry data indicated that vibration affected the launch vehicle again and it came close to meeting the same fate as its predecessor. Sputnik 3 was an automatic scientific laboratory spacecraft. It was conically shaped and was 3.57 m (11.7 ft) long and 1.73 m (5.68 ft) wide at its base. It weighed 1,327 kg (1.46 tons). The scientific instrumentation (twelve instruments) provided data on pressure and composition of the upper atmosphere, concentration of charged particles, photons in cosmic rays, heavy nuclei in cosmic rays, magnetic and electrostatic fields, and meteoric particles. While The Earth's outer radiation belts were detected during the flight, its Tral-D tape recorder failed, so it was unable to map the Van Allen radiation belt.[7] The Soviets, without full evidence, were "hog-tied".[8] Sputnik 3 reentered the atmosphere and burned up on 6 April 1960.[9]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Green, Constance McLaughlin, and Lomax, Milton.. Vanguard a History, Washington D.C., National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1970, p. 219. NASA SP-4202
  2. ↑ Siddiqi, Asif A.. Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge, Gainesville, Florida. The University of Florida Press, 2003, p. 176. ISBN 0-8130-2627-X
  3. ↑ Siddiqi, Asif A.. Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge, Gainesville, Florida. The University of Florida Press, 2003, p. 149. ISBN 0-8130-2627-X
  4. ↑ Harford, James.. Korolev how one man masterminded the Soviet drive to beat America to the Moon, New York. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997, p. 126. ISBN 0-471-14853-9
  5. ↑ Zaloga, Stephen J.. The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword, Washington. The Smithsonian Institution Press, 2002, p. 232. ISBN 1-58834-007-4
  6. ↑ Siddiqi, Asif A.. Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge, Gainesville, Florida. The University of Florida Press, 2003, p. 175. ISBN 0-8130-2627-X
  7. ↑ Siddiqi, Asif A.. Sputnik and the Soviet Space Challenge, Gainesville, Florida. The University of Florida Press, 2003, p. 175-176. ISBN 0-8130-2627-X
  8. ↑ Harford, James.. Korolev how one man masterminded the Soviet drive to beat America to the Moon, New York. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997, p. 136. ISBN 0-471-14853-9
  9. ↑ "Sputnik 3 - Scientific Laboratory". Robert Christy. Retrieved 2011-06-30.

References

External links

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