1957 the first artificial earth satellite. The first artificial satellite of the Earth
On October 4, 1957, the space age of mankind began. From the 5th Research Site of the USSR Ministry of Defense, which later received the name BAIKONUR Cosmodrome, the first artificial Earth satellite was launched by the R-7 launch vehicle.
The creation of the first spacecraft began at OKB-1 in November 1956. The satellite was developed as a very simple device, which is why it was named the PS-1 spacecraft (the simplest satellite). It was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters and a weight of 83.6 kilograms. PS-1 was equipped with four whip antennas to transmit signals from battery-powered transmitters.
A whole group of scientists and designers, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics, Sergei Korolev, worked on the creation of an artificial Earth satellite.
Exhibit of the Baikonur Cosmodrome History Museum
On October 4, 1957, at 22:28:34 Moscow time, the Sputnik (R-7) launch vehicle was successfully launched. 295 seconds after launch, the first satellite was launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated, and it cast its vote. “Beep! Beep! – that’s exactly what his call sign sounded like. PS-1 became the first artificial object. The satellite flew for 92 days, made 1440 revolutions around the Earth (flying about 60 million km), and its battery-powered radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.
Newspaper "Pravda" dated October 5th and 6th, 1957 
In September 1967, the International Astronautical Federation proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the Beginning of the Human Space Age. Also, the date of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite is considered the day of the Space Forces. It was the launch and control parts of spacecraft that carried out the launch and control of the flight of the first artificial Earth satellite. Subsequently, the first manned flight into space and many domestic and international space programs were carried out with the direct participation of military units launch and control of spacecraft. Due to the increasing role of space in issues national security By decree of the President of Russia in 2001, an independent branch of the military was created - Space Force. Today the Space Forces are part of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The first artificial earth satellite, which was successfully launched on October 4, 1957, marked the beginning new era- era of space exploration.
This colossal technical breakthrough is the merit of a team of Soviet scientists and designers led by the recognized founder of astronautics S.P. Korolev.
General information about Sputnik 1
"Sputnik - 1" was originally called "PS - 1". This name stands for “The simplest satellite - 1”. It is a spherical object made of high-strength magnesium alloy.
The diameter of the sphere is 58 cm. It consists of two parts connected by bolts. Four VHF and HF antennas are mounted on its surface. The presence of antennas allows you to track its location during the flight.
The upper part of the satellite has a hemispherical screen. It plays the role of a thermal insulation coating. Inside the satellite there are batteries, a radio transmitter and all the necessary instruments and sensors.
History of creation
Attempts to create an artificial satellite were made long before PS-1 flew. Leading German designer Wernher von Braun worked on the creation of an unmanned orbital object.
As an employee of the American Strategic Weapons Service, he presented his experimental model of a spacecraft to the military. But none of his attempts were successful.
In the USSR, teams of enthusiastic engineers worked selflessly on this idea. They were not assembled in design laboratories or in spacious hangars and workshops. Ideas for space flight originated in metalwork shops and basements.
1946 was the year of the creation of the USSR rocket industry, the head of which was appointed the brilliant Soviet designer S. P. Korolev. Despite the fact that the country has not yet recovered from the terrible consequences of the Second World War, Soviet scientists and engineers managed to create a powerful technical base.
A few years later, the first successful launch of the R-1 ballistic missile was carried out. Subsequently, its analogue “R-2” was launched, which was distinguished by its large range and flight speed.
Model of the first space satellite
After successful tests of the new intercontinental rocket "R-3", Soviet scientists managed to convince the government of the feasibility of creating the first space satellite.
In 1955, this project received the approval of the highest authorities, which was the beginning of hard work to create the world's first orbital facility.
It is difficult to say with complete certainty who invented and created artificial satellites. This is largely due to the entire team of designers and engineers headed by S.P. Korolev and M.K. Tikhonravov.
Two years later, the satellite was ready. His weight was about 84 kg. The shape of the satellite was not chosen by chance. It is the sphere that represents the ideal shape, with maximum volume with minimum surface.
In addition, this object was supposed to become a symbol of the space age and represent an example of an ideal spacecraft, primarily in terms of its appearance.
Launch of the first artificial Earth satellite
Every day space became more and more accessible. On October 4, 1957, in the Kazakh steppe, one of the greatest events in the history of mankind took place - an intercontinental rocket with a spherical object on board was launched at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The R-7 launch vehicle soared upward with a piercing roar. A few minutes later, the spacecraft was launched into orbit, the altitude of which was about 950 km.
After some time, the first man-made object set off on its legendary free flight. The long-awaited signals began to be received on the ground.
The satellite flew over the earth for 92 days, making 1400 revolutions. After this, the companion was destined to die. Losing speed, it began to approach the surface of the earth and simply burned out, overcoming the resistance of the atmosphere.
After the first orbit around the Earth, the main announcer of the country of the Soviets, Yu. B. Levitan, announced the successful launch of the first satellite.
Thanks to special settings for the power of the radio transmitter, the signal from the satellite could be easily received by both specialists and ordinary radio amateurs. Millions of people around the world clung to their radio speakers to hear the “voice from space.”
For each revolution around the Earth, the satellite spent an average of 95–96 minutes. It is noteworthy that the satellite as such was not visible to the naked eye, although after its launch a moving dot could be observed in the sky.
In fact, this flying star is nothing more than the last stage of the launch vehicle, which continued to move in orbit for some time until it burned up in the atmosphere.
It is worth noting: despite the fact that all the instruments and control devices of the device were created, as they say, from scratch, not a single one of them failed during the flight.
When creating electronic power supplies we used Newest technologies those years that had no analogues in any country for many years.
Scientific results of the Sputnik-1 flight
It is difficult to overestimate the significance of this legendary event. In addition to strengthening faith in space flight and increasing the country's prestige, he made an invaluable contribution to the development and strengthening of the scientific potential of that time.
Analysis of the PS-1 flight made it possible to begin the study of the ionosphere, the properties of which had not been fully studied. In particular, scientists were interested in the issue of the propagation of radio waves in its environment. In addition, measurements of atmospheric density parameters and its effect on the orbital object were carried out.
Analysis of the collected data has become a good help in the design and creation of new components and mechanisms of future spacecraft.
Some of the most interesting facts:
The era of space exploration remembers many significant events, each of which was achieved at the cost of incredible efforts and losses. One way or another, the thorny path to the stars was laid precisely then - on October 4, 1957.
It was this date that served as the starting point for the development of domestic cosmonautics as an independent industry and determined its future fate.
In 1957, under the leadership of S.P. Korolev created the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile R-7, which was used to launch the same year the world's first artificial Earth satellite.
Artificial Earth satellite (satellite) is a spacecraft revolving around the Earth in a geocentric orbit. - the trajectory of a celestial body along an elliptical path around the Earth. One of the two foci of the ellipse along which the celestial body moves coincides with the Earth. In order to spaceship found himself in this orbit, he needs to be told a speed that is less than the second escape velocity, but not less than the first escape velocity. AES flights are carried out at altitudes of up to several hundred thousand kilometers. The lower limit of the satellite's flight altitude is determined by the need to avoid the process of rapid braking in the atmosphere. The orbital period of a satellite, depending on the average flight altitude, can range from one and a half hours to several days.
Of particular importance are satellites in geostationary orbit, whose orbital period is strictly equal to a day and therefore for a ground observer they “hang” motionless in the sky, which makes it possible to get rid of rotating devices in antennas. Geostationary orbit(GSO) - a circular orbit located above the Earth’s equator (0° latitude), while in which an artificial satellite orbits the planet with an angular velocity equal to the angular velocity of the Earth’s rotation around its axis. Movement of an artificial Earth satellite in geostationary orbit.
Sputnik-1- the first artificial Earth satellite, the first spacecraft, launched into orbit in the USSR on October 4, 1957.
Satellite code designation - PS-1(The simplest Sputnik-1). The launch was carried out from the 5th research site of the USSR Ministry of Defense "Tyura-Tam" (later this place was named the Baikonur Cosmodrome) on a Sputnik (R-7) launch vehicle.
Scientists M.V. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. Chekunov, A. worked on the creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics S.P. Korolev. V. Bukhtiyarov and many others.
The date of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite is considered the beginning of the space age of mankind, and in Russia it is celebrated as a memorable day of the Space Forces.
The satellite's body consisted of two hemispheres with a diameter of 58 cm made of aluminum alloy with docking frames connected to each other by 36 bolts. The tightness of the joint was ensured by a rubber gasket. In the upper half-shell there were two antennas, each of two rods 2.4 m and 2.9 m long. Since the satellite was unoriented, the four-antenna system gave uniform radiation in all directions.
Inside sealed housing a block of electrochemical sources was placed; radio transmitting device; fan; thermal relay and air duct of the thermal control system; switching device for on-board electrical automation; temperature and pressure sensors; onboard cable network. Mass of the first satellite: 83.6 kg.
The history of the creation of the first satellite
On May 13, 1946, Stalin signed a decree on the creation of a rocket science and industry in the USSR. In August S. P. Korolev was appointed chief designer ballistic missiles long-range.
But back in 1931, the Jet Propulsion Study Group was created in the USSR, which was engaged in the design of rockets. This group worked Tsander, Tikhonravov, Pobedonostsev, Korolev. In 1933, on the basis of this group, the Jet Institute was organized, which continued work on creating and improving rockets.
In 1947, the V-2 rocket was assembled and flight tested in Germany, which marked the beginning of Soviet work on the development of rocket technology. However, the V-2 embodied in its design the ideas of single geniuses Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Hermann Oberth, Robert Goddard.
In 1948, tests of the R-1 rocket, which was a copy of the V-2, manufactured entirely in the USSR, were already carried out at the Kapustin Yar test site. Then the R-2 appeared with a flight range of up to 600 km; these missiles were put into service in 1951. And the creation of the R-5 missile with a range of up to 1200 km was the first break away from the V-2 technology. These missiles were tested in 1953, and research immediately began on their use as a launch vehicle. nuclear weapons. On May 20, 1954, the government issued a decree on the development of a two-stage R-7 intercontinental missile. And already on May 27, Korolev sent a report to the Minister of Defense Industry D.F. Ustinov about the development of an artificial satellite and the possibility of launching it using the future R-7 rocket.
Launch!
On Friday, October 4, at 22 hours 28 minutes 34 seconds Moscow time, the successful launch. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 314.5 seconds after launch, Sputnik separated and it cast its vote. “Beep! Beep! - that was his call sign. They were caught at the training ground for 2 minutes, then the Sputnik went beyond the horizon. People at the cosmodrome ran out into the street, shouted “Hurray!”, shook the designers and military personnel. And even on the first orbit, a TASS message was heard: “... As a result, a large hard work research institutes and design bureaus created the world's first artificial Earth satellite..."
Only after receiving the first signals from Sputnik did the results of processing telemetry data arrive and it turned out that only a fraction of a second separated it from failure. One of the engines was “delayed”, and the time to enter the mode is strictly controlled and if it is exceeded, the start is automatically canceled. The unit entered mode less than a second before the control time. At the 16th second of flight, the fuel supply control system failed, and due to increased kerosene consumption, the central engine turned off 1 second earlier than the estimated time. But the winners are not judged! The satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million km), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch. Due to friction with the upper layers of the atmosphere, the satellite lost speed, entered the dense layers of the atmosphere and burned up due to friction with the air.
Officially, Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2 were launched by the Soviet Union in accordance with its obligations under the International Geophysical Year. The satellite emitted radio waves at two frequencies of 20.005 and 40.002 MHz in the form of telegraphic messages lasting 0.3 s, this made it possible to study the upper layers of the ionosphere - before the launch of the first satellite it was possible to observe only the reflection of radio waves from regions of the ionosphere lying below the zone of maximum ionization of the ionospheric layers.
Launch goals
- verification of calculations and basic technical decisions taken for the launch;
- ionospheric studies of the passage of radio waves emitted by satellite transmitters;
- experimental determination of the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere by satellite deceleration;
- study of equipment operating conditions.
Despite the fact that the satellite was completely devoid of any scientific equipment, studying the nature of the radio signal and optical observations of the orbit made it possible to obtain important scientific data.
Other satellites
The second country to launch satellites was the United States: on February 1, 1958, an artificial earth satellite was launched Explorer-1. It was in orbit until March 1970, but stopped radio transmissions on February 28, 1958. The first American artificial Earth satellite was launched by Brown's team.
Werner Magnus Maximilian von Braun- German, and since the late 1940s, American designer of rocket and space technology, one of the founders of modern rocketry, creator of the first ballistic missiles. In the United States, he is considered the “father” of the American space program. Von Braun, for political reasons, was not given permission to launch the first American satellite for a long time (the US leadership wanted the satellite to be launched by the military), so preparations for the launch of the Explorer began in earnest only after the Avangard accident. For the launch, a souped-up version of the Redstone ballistic missile, called Jupiter-S, was created. The mass of the satellite was exactly 10 times less than the mass of the first Soviet satellite - 8.3 kg. It was equipped with a Geiger counter and a meteor particle sensor. The Explorer's orbit was noticeably higher than the orbit of the first satellite.
The following countries that launched satellites - Great Britain, Canada, Italy - launched their first satellites in 1962, 1962, 1964 . on American launch vehicles. And the third country to launch the first satellite on its launch vehicle was France November 26, 1965
Satellites are now being launched more than 40 countries (as well as individual companies) using both their own launch vehicles (LVs) and those provided as launch services by other countries and interstate and private organizations.
“The first great step of humanity is to fly out of the atmosphere and become a satellite of the Earth. The rest is relatively easy, up to moving away from our solar system»
NEW SPACE AGE
On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, which discovered space age in the history of mankind.
The satellite, which became the first artificial celestial body, was launched into orbit by the R-7 launch vehicle from the 5th Research Test Site of the USSR Ministry of Defense, which later received the open name Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The PS-1 spacecraft (the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world.
The creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical astronautics S.P. Scientists M.V. worked with Korolev. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. Chekunov and many others.
The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.
The launch of an artificial Earth satellite was of enormous importance for understanding the properties of outer space and studying the Earth as a planet in our solar system. Analysis of the received signals from the satellite gave scientists the opportunity to study the upper layers of the ionosphere, which was not possible before. In addition, information about the operating conditions of the equipment, which was very useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere was determined based on the braking of the satellite.
The launch of the first artificial Earth satellite received a huge worldwide response. The whole world learned about his flight. The entire world press talked about this event.
In September 1967, the International Astronautical Federation proclaimed October 4 as the Day of the Beginning of the Human Space Age.
THE TRUTH ABOUT SATELLITE
“On October 4, 1957, the first satellite was successfully launched in the USSR. According to preliminary data, the launch vehicle gave the satellite the required orbital speed of about 8,000 meters per second. Currently, the satellite describes elliptical trajectories around the Earth and its flight can be observed in the rays of the rising and setting Sun using simple optical instruments (binoculars, telescopes, etc.).
According to calculations, which are now being refined by direct observations, the satellite will move at altitudes of up to 900 kilometers above the Earth’s surface; the time of one complete revolution of the satellite will be 1 hour 35 minutes, the angle of inclination of the orbit to the equatorial plane is 65°. On October 5, 1957, the satellite will pass over the Moscow area twice - at 1 hour 46 minutes. at night and at 6 o'clock. 42 min. morning Moscow time. Messages about the subsequent movement of the first artificial satellite, launched in the USSR on October 4, will be transmitted regularly by broadcast radio stations.
The satellite has the shape of a ball with a diameter of 58 cm and a weight of 83.6 kg. It has two radio transmitters that continuously emit radio signals with a frequency of 20.005 and 40.002 megahertz (wavelength about 15 and 7.5 meters, respectively). Transmitter powers ensure reliable reception of radio signals by a wide range of radio amateurs. The signals take the form of telegraphic messages lasting about 0.3 seconds. with a pause of the same duration. A signal of one frequency is sent during a pause of a signal of another frequency...”
Sputnik: BAD IDEA
Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov was a man of incredible curiosity. Mathematics and many engineering disciplines, which he mastered at the Academy. N. E. Zhukovsky did not dry up his romantic passion and penchant for fantastic thoughts. He painted landscapes in oils, collected a collection of woodcutter beetles, and studied the dynamics of insect flight, secretly hoping to discover some kind of new principle to design an incredible aircraft. He liked to mathematize dreams, and he received, perhaps, equal pleasure when calculations showed their reality, and when, on the contrary, they led to absurdity: he loved to find out. One day Tikhonravov decided to shortchange the artificial Earth satellite. Of course, he read Tsiolkovsky and knew that a single-stage rocket would not be able to put a satellite into orbit, he carefully studied his “Space Rocket Trains”, “The Highest Speed of a Rocket” and other works in which the idea of a multi-stage rocket was first theoretically substantiated, but he was interested in estimating various options for connecting these stages, see what all this adds up to on a scale, in short - decide how realistic the very idea of obtaining the first cosmic speed needed by a satellite is at the current level of development of rocket technology. I started counting and became seriously interested. The defense research institute in which Mikhail Klavdievich worked was engaged in things incomparably more serious than an artificial Earth satellite, but to the credit of his boss, Alexei Ivanovich Nesterenko, all this unscheduled semi-fantastic work at the institute was not only not persecuted, but, on the contrary, was encouraged and supported by him, although it was not advertised in order to avoid accusations of project-making. Tikhonravov and a small group of his equally enthusiastic employees in 1947-1948, without any computers, did colossal calculation work and proved that there really is a real version of such a rocket package, which, in principle, can accelerate a certain load to the first cosmic speed.
In June 1948, the Academy of Artillery Sciences was preparing to hold a scientific session, and the institute where Tikhonravov worked received a paper asking what reports the research institute could present. Tikhonravov decided to report the results of his calculations on the satellite - an artificial Earth satellite. No one actively objected, but the topic of the report still sounded so strange, if not outlandish, that they decided to consult with the president of the artillery academy, Anatoly Arkadyevich Blagonravov.
Completely gray-haired at 54 years old, a handsome, exquisitely polite academician in the uniform of an artillery lieutenant general, surrounded by several of his closest employees, listened to the small delegation from the NIH very carefully. He understood that Mikhail Klavdievich’s calculations were correct, that all this was not Jules Verne or Herbert Wells, but he also understood something else: such a report would not grace the scientific session of the Artillery Academy.
“It’s an interesting question,” Anatoly Arkadyevich said in a tired, colorless voice, “but we won’t be able to include your report.” They will hardly understand us... They will accuse us of doing the wrong thing...
The people in uniform sitting around the president nodded in agreement.
When the small delegation of the research institute left, Blagonravov experienced some kind of mental discomfort. He worked a lot with the military and learned from them in general useful rule don't revise decisions made, but then again and again he returned to Tikhonravov’s report and at home in the evening he thought about it again, he could not get rid of the thought that this frivolous report was in fact serious.
Tikhonravov was a real researcher and good engineer, but he was not a fighter. The AAN president's refusal upset him. At the research institute, its young employees, who had remained silent in the president’s office, now raised a clamor, in which, however, new serious arguments in favor of their report flashed.
Why were you silent there? - Mikhail Klavdievich got angry.
We must go again and persuade the general! - the youth decided.
And the next day they went again. There was an impression that Blagonravov seemed delighted at their arrival. He smiled and listened to the new arguments with half an ear. Then he said:
OK then. We will include the report in the session plan. Get ready - we'll blush together...
Then there was a report, and after the report, as Blagonravov expected, one very serious man of considerable rank asked Anatoly Arkadyevich, as if in passing, looking over his interlocutor’s head:
The institute probably has nothing to do, and that’s why you decided to move into the field of science fiction...
There were plenty of ironic smiles. But there were not only smiles. Sergei Korolev approached Tikhonravov without a smile and said, sternly speaking in his manner:
We need to have a serious conversation...
SATELLITE AS A WARNING
Few people in America have heard of a man named Sergei Pavlovich Korolev. However, it was thanks to him that NASA was created; It was thanks to him that we got to the moon. It was thanks to this mysterious Russian that federal loans appeared in our country for higher education; He's the reason we can watch National Football League games on DirecTV.
“Chief Designer” - these words became the name of Korolev, the real information about whom was a state secret of the Soviet Union - almost single-handedly began the world rocket and space race. To a very large extent because of this stubborn man, a survivor of the Stalinist Gulag, although he lost all his teeth and almost his life in the Siberian camps, in 1960 the Republican Party lost the election to the White House, and Lyndon B. Johnson, on the contrary, passed along with John F. Kennedy and eventually became the thirty-sixth President of America.
For all these events are nothing more than even the largest consequences of the launch of the tiny Soviet Sputnik, created under the leadership of Korolev 50 years ago and launched into space on October 4, 1957. This launch caused panic in the United States, the consequences of which we feel until to this day. The main source of fear, however, was not this aluminum ball, but the huge carrier on which it flew into space - the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile. This 183-ton weapon gave the former Soviet Union the ability to destroy any city on Earth in a few minutes - at that time it was an opportunity that no one had. For the first time in American history, its territory became vulnerable to attack by a foreign power.
SECOND SLAP TO AMERICA
Before the United States could respond in any way to the flight of Sputnik 1, a second satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit on November 3 of the same year.
Laika is a dog, the first living creature launched into Earth orbit. It was launched into space on November 3, 1957 at half past six in the morning Moscow time on the Soviet ship Sputnik-2. She was housed in a space kennel the size of a washing machine. At that time, Laika was about two years old and weighed about 6 kilograms. Like many other animals in space, the dog died during the flight - 5-7 hours after launch, she died from stress and overheating. Although Laika failed to survive, the experiment confirmed that a living passenger could survive launch into orbit and weightlessness; Thus, Laika paved the way to space for people, including Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin. The first animals to return safely from space flight were the dogs Belka and Strelka.
Day of the beginning of the space age of mankind (October 4, 1957); proclaimed by the International Astronautical Federation in September 1967 (on this day the world's first artificial Earth satellite was successfully launched in the USSR)
On October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched into low-Earth orbit, ushering in the space age in human history. The satellite, which became the first artificial celestial body, was launched into orbit by the R-7 launch vehicle from the 5th research site of the USSR Ministry of Defense, which later received the open name of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The PS-1 spacecraft (the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 km at apogee and 288 km at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world. The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million km), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch. The United States was able to repeat the success of the USSR only on February 1, 1958, launching on the second attempt the Explorer 1 satellite, weighing 10 times less than the first satellite. Scientists M.V. worked on the creation of an artificial Earth satellite, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics S.P. Korolev. Keldysh, M.K. Tikhonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, V.I. Lapko, B.S. Chekunov and many others.
The formation of the rocket and space industry and technology in our country practically began in the spring of 1946. It was then that research institutes, design bureaus, testing centers and factories for the development and production of long-range ballistic missiles were formed. Then NII-88 (later OKB-1, TsKBM, NPO Energia, RSC Energia) appeared - the main institute in the country's jet weapons, headed by S.P. Korolev. Together with the chief designers - on rocket engines, control systems, command instruments, radio systems, launch complexes, etc., S.P. Korolev supervised the creation of rocket and space systems that ensured the first and subsequent flights of automatic and manned vehicles. In a short historical period, a powerful industry was created in the country to produce a wide variety of rocket and space technology. Thousands of devices for various purposes were designed, built and sent into space, and a huge amount of work was done to study outer space. Launch vehicles “Zenit”, “Proton”, “Cosmos”, “Molniya”, “Cyclone” launched scientific research, applied, meteorological, navigation, and military satellites “Electron”, “Gorizont”, “Start” into space orbit. , “Cosmos”, “Resource”, “Gals”, “Forecast”, communication satellites “Ekran”, “Molniya” and others. Unique work was done by automatic spacecraft during flights to the Moon, Mars, Venus, and Halley's Comet.
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