Hey everyone,
The dream of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely to Earth was in reach after Project Gemini. But, man would need a rocket to travel to the moon carrying more mass than ever before. This rocket would prove to be the largest rocket ever built by far. The Saturn V booster would be this rocket. The initial work on a Saturn V relative would begin in 1960, and they would begin plans on the Saturn V in 1962. By 1963, it was confirmed as the rocket for the Apollo missions. Wernher von Braun was the architect of this rocket, fulfilling a long time dream for the man. The finished product would stand 363 feet tall and use 6,500,000 pounds of fuel. Like other rockets, this was a multi-stage rocket which had three stages. The first stage had five engines and used kerosene type fuel with liquid oxygen. The second stage also had five engines and used liquid hydrogen and oxygen. The third stage used a single engine for a final push into space with liquid hydrogen and oxygen. Before men would ride this rocket, there would be two unmanned launches of this rocket with the Apollo 4 and 6. Four was successful while six had some serious problems. However, the rocket has 2,000 moving parts, and anyone of these parts failing could cause serious problems. The work had to be literally flawless, and it was consistently. This rocket is the pinnacle of science and an amazing feat considering that rocketry was still young (40 years old) and space flight was very young (12 years old). While the rocket worked, other missions would have to be flown before man would walk on the moon.
Showing posts with label space race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label space race. Show all posts
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
May 25, 1961
Hey everyone,
The Apollo Program which proposed that a man be sent to the moon was conceived as early as the Eisenhower administration. However, it wasn't until May 25th, 1961 that this program began moving forward. On this date, Kennedy addressed congress. His statement was this "...I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish". This was just weeks after Alan Shepard had launched into space for fifteen minutes. The goal was bold, to say the least. Over the 8 years and more that followed, 400,000 people would work towards this goal and tens of billions would be spent on this endeavor. President Kennedy would publicly push this goal, especially in a speech made at Rice University on September 12, 1962. In this speech, Kennedy stated that "No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space" and "we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". However, President Kennedy would not live to see this dream after succumbing to an assassin's bullet just fourteen months after this speech. Even after this death, Project Gemini would move towards this goal, and, by the beginning of 1967, the moon appeared to be a tangible goal. But, tragedy would stop it dead in its tracks.
The Apollo Program which proposed that a man be sent to the moon was conceived as early as the Eisenhower administration. However, it wasn't until May 25th, 1961 that this program began moving forward. On this date, Kennedy addressed congress. His statement was this "...I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish". This was just weeks after Alan Shepard had launched into space for fifteen minutes. The goal was bold, to say the least. Over the 8 years and more that followed, 400,000 people would work towards this goal and tens of billions would be spent on this endeavor. President Kennedy would publicly push this goal, especially in a speech made at Rice University on September 12, 1962. In this speech, Kennedy stated that "No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space" and "we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard". However, President Kennedy would not live to see this dream after succumbing to an assassin's bullet just fourteen months after this speech. Even after this death, Project Gemini would move towards this goal, and, by the beginning of 1967, the moon appeared to be a tangible goal. But, tragedy would stop it dead in its tracks.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Gemini V
Hey everyone,
Project Gemini continued with its third manned spaceflight. L. Gordon Cooper, a Mercury veteran, acted as the Command Pilot for this mission while Charles "Pete" Conrad was the Pilot. The flight lasted 8 days and had a practice space rendezvous which proved unsuccessful. Problems began to develop with fuel cells and several experiments were canceled. The astronauts had some down time in space, and Conrad remarked that he hadn't brought a book. They returned to Earth safely, but Cooper would not fly again after Gemini. Conrad on the other hand would have a storied career in space. Other flights would address the rendezvous problems and continue towards the goal of the moon.
P. S. Sorry for the short length.
Project Gemini continued with its third manned spaceflight. L. Gordon Cooper, a Mercury veteran, acted as the Command Pilot for this mission while Charles "Pete" Conrad was the Pilot. The flight lasted 8 days and had a practice space rendezvous which proved unsuccessful. Problems began to develop with fuel cells and several experiments were canceled. The astronauts had some down time in space, and Conrad remarked that he hadn't brought a book. They returned to Earth safely, but Cooper would not fly again after Gemini. Conrad on the other hand would have a storied career in space. Other flights would address the rendezvous problems and continue towards the goal of the moon.
P. S. Sorry for the short length.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Gemini IV
Hey everyone,
In June 1965, Gemini IV took flight with the crew of James McDivitt and Edward White. McDivitt was the Command Pilot and White the Pilot. This was the first multi-day flight by the United States which showed that people could journey to the moon safely and return. They would also attempt a rendezvous, but this would not be successful. After Leonov's space walk in April, the United States moved up their plans for a spacewalk to Gemini IV. White executed this Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) without a hitch for 22 minutes. He was instructed to come back in at 15 minutes, but, due to a delay in communications, he didn't immediately receive this message which accounts for the last seven minutes. White passed Leonov by a full ten minutes on his walk to history. The rest of the mission continued smoothly and an overall Gemini objective had been met. McDivitt would fly again, but White would not, but that's a later post.
In June 1965, Gemini IV took flight with the crew of James McDivitt and Edward White. McDivitt was the Command Pilot and White the Pilot. This was the first multi-day flight by the United States which showed that people could journey to the moon safely and return. They would also attempt a rendezvous, but this would not be successful. After Leonov's space walk in April, the United States moved up their plans for a spacewalk to Gemini IV. White executed this Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) without a hitch for 22 minutes. He was instructed to come back in at 15 minutes, but, due to a delay in communications, he didn't immediately receive this message which accounts for the last seven minutes. White passed Leonov by a full ten minutes on his walk to history. The rest of the mission continued smoothly and an overall Gemini objective had been met. McDivitt would fly again, but White would not, but that's a later post.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Alexey Leonov and the first space walk
Hey everyone,
On March 18, 1965, Alexey Leonov became the first human being to walk in space. The walk only lasted for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, but he walked into history. Only a 5.35 meter tether attached to him to the spacecraft. The suit soon expanded due to the vacuum of space, and he was not able to re-enter the craft at first. Using a valve, he let off the air which allowed him to re-enter the craft. Leonov was part of the original 20 cosmonauts chosen for space travel. Had the Soviets continued to win the space race, Leonov would probably have been the first man to walk on the moon. These missions would be canceled when the Soviets fell behind in the space race. Leonov would train astronauts until his retirement in 1991.
On March 18, 1965, Alexey Leonov became the first human being to walk in space. The walk only lasted for 12 minutes and 9 seconds, but he walked into history. Only a 5.35 meter tether attached to him to the spacecraft. The suit soon expanded due to the vacuum of space, and he was not able to re-enter the craft at first. Using a valve, he let off the air which allowed him to re-enter the craft. Leonov was part of the original 20 cosmonauts chosen for space travel. Had the Soviets continued to win the space race, Leonov would probably have been the first man to walk on the moon. These missions would be canceled when the Soviets fell behind in the space race. Leonov would train astronauts until his retirement in 1991.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Project Gemini
Hey everyone,
On May 25, 1961, just weeks after Shepard spent 15 minute in space, President Kennedy claimed that man (an American) would go to the moon before the end of the decade. The Mercury missions, alone, would not be enough for astronauts to go to the moon. Before a moon landing could be possible, there were five objectives that had to be met. There were:
1.To test the durability of astronauts and equipment in space for an extended period of time using long duration space flights.
2. To rendezvous and dock two separate spacecraft and then maneuver the space craft.
3. To perfect re-entry and landing techniques.
4. To gain further information about the effects of weightlessness on the body.
5. To have an astronaut go outside the spacecraft for Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA).
Once these were accomplished, the United States could journey to the moon. However, there was another new development in Project Gemini, the Titan III rocket which was a modified ICBM. The first two flights would be unmanned, but Gemini III would carry men into space.
Next: Gemini III
On May 25, 1961, just weeks after Shepard spent 15 minute in space, President Kennedy claimed that man (an American) would go to the moon before the end of the decade. The Mercury missions, alone, would not be enough for astronauts to go to the moon. Before a moon landing could be possible, there were five objectives that had to be met. There were:
1.To test the durability of astronauts and equipment in space for an extended period of time using long duration space flights.
2. To rendezvous and dock two separate spacecraft and then maneuver the space craft.
3. To perfect re-entry and landing techniques.
4. To gain further information about the effects of weightlessness on the body.
5. To have an astronaut go outside the spacecraft for Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA).
Once these were accomplished, the United States could journey to the moon. However, there was another new development in Project Gemini, the Titan III rocket which was a modified ICBM. The first two flights would be unmanned, but Gemini III would carry men into space.
Next: Gemini III
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The rest of the Mercury 7
Hey everyone,
Of the original Mercury 7, six would be the first Americans into space. One man, Deke Slayton would not fly on those initial six flights. He would be grounded for atrial fibrillation, but he would continue to work for NASA as the head of astronaut selection. However, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and L. Gordon Cooper. All of them would orbit, but Carpenter would miss his landing by 250 miles and never fly a spacecraft again due to a grounding injury. At one point, they were worried that he'd become the first casualty in space, but he located eventually. Many blamed him for the overshot, but this is still debated. Schirra would fly a near flawless mission and continue on in the space program. Cooper would fly the last Mercury mission on March 15, 1963. He slept during the countdown and would be the first American to sleep in space during his 34 hour mission. He too would continue in the space program in project Gemini.
Of the original Mercury 7, six would be the first Americans into space. One man, Deke Slayton would not fly on those initial six flights. He would be grounded for atrial fibrillation, but he would continue to work for NASA as the head of astronaut selection. However, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and L. Gordon Cooper. All of them would orbit, but Carpenter would miss his landing by 250 miles and never fly a spacecraft again due to a grounding injury. At one point, they were worried that he'd become the first casualty in space, but he located eventually. Many blamed him for the overshot, but this is still debated. Schirra would fly a near flawless mission and continue on in the space program. Cooper would fly the last Mercury mission on March 15, 1963. He slept during the countdown and would be the first American to sleep in space during his 34 hour mission. He too would continue in the space program in project Gemini.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friendship 7 and John Glenn
Hey everyone,
Glenn is the third American to travel to space, but he is the first orbit the Earth. He joined the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor and began flying missions. He would continue to fly and train pilots for the military until he entered the history books by completing the first supersonic transcontinental flight on July 16, 1957. In 1959, he was selected as one of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Glenn was the backup crew for Shepard during his historic flight and finally flew the third mission on Friendship 7. On February 20, 1962, Glenn successfully entered orbit and completed three periods around the Earth. There was some worry that his heat shield would fail upon re-entry, but it held. Glenn splashed down with no problems. After a ticker tape parade, he was hailed as a national hero and many forgot about Shepard and Grissom. However, Glenn retired from NASA in early 1964 soon after the assignation of John F. Kennedy. There was also a rumor that Kennedy made sure that Glenn would not fly into outer space again because of his standing as a national hero. After leaving NASA, Glenn focused on politics but didn't win a seat until 1974 when he became a senator from Ohio. Glenn would journey into space one more time at the age of 77 in 1998. Again, he would enter the history books as the oldest person to go to outer space. His trip provided data on how the elderly could handle the impact of space even though some criticized it as political, but Glenn would retire from politics in the following year. Glenn made an historic flight, but their were many more to come.
Glenn is the third American to travel to space, but he is the first orbit the Earth. He joined the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor and began flying missions. He would continue to fly and train pilots for the military until he entered the history books by completing the first supersonic transcontinental flight on July 16, 1957. In 1959, he was selected as one of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Glenn was the backup crew for Shepard during his historic flight and finally flew the third mission on Friendship 7. On February 20, 1962, Glenn successfully entered orbit and completed three periods around the Earth. There was some worry that his heat shield would fail upon re-entry, but it held. Glenn splashed down with no problems. After a ticker tape parade, he was hailed as a national hero and many forgot about Shepard and Grissom. However, Glenn retired from NASA in early 1964 soon after the assignation of John F. Kennedy. There was also a rumor that Kennedy made sure that Glenn would not fly into outer space again because of his standing as a national hero. After leaving NASA, Glenn focused on politics but didn't win a seat until 1974 when he became a senator from Ohio. Glenn would journey into space one more time at the age of 77 in 1998. Again, he would enter the history books as the oldest person to go to outer space. His trip provided data on how the elderly could handle the impact of space even though some criticized it as political, but Glenn would retire from politics in the following year. Glenn made an historic flight, but their were many more to come.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Hey everyone,
Virgil "Gus" Grissom was one of the original Mercury astronauts. Gus joined the Army Air Forces after graduating high school in 1944, and, thanks to the G.I. Bill, he received a degree in engineering from Purdue and rejoined the Air Force where he became a pilot. Grissom flew 100 combat missions in Korea and became an instructor and eventually a test pilot after the war. In 1959, he would undergo the same tests that Shepard had and make it through to the final seven. On July 21, 1961, Grissom flew in the Liberty Bell 7 into another sub-orbital flight like Shepard. Upon landing, explosive bolts opened the hatch, and the craft began to fill with water. A helicopter tried to retrieve the Liberty Bell 7, but it became too heavy and was left to sink. Grissom exited from craft but flailed in the ocean as his suit filled with water because of a hole that Grissom was not able to close in time. He nearly drowned but was saved by a second helicopter. Gus would continue to fly as an astronaut on Gemini 3 and was slated to fly on Apollo 3, but I'll talk about those stories in another post.
Virgil "Gus" Grissom was one of the original Mercury astronauts. Gus joined the Army Air Forces after graduating high school in 1944, and, thanks to the G.I. Bill, he received a degree in engineering from Purdue and rejoined the Air Force where he became a pilot. Grissom flew 100 combat missions in Korea and became an instructor and eventually a test pilot after the war. In 1959, he would undergo the same tests that Shepard had and make it through to the final seven. On July 21, 1961, Grissom flew in the Liberty Bell 7 into another sub-orbital flight like Shepard. Upon landing, explosive bolts opened the hatch, and the craft began to fill with water. A helicopter tried to retrieve the Liberty Bell 7, but it became too heavy and was left to sink. Grissom exited from craft but flailed in the ocean as his suit filled with water because of a hole that Grissom was not able to close in time. He nearly drowned but was saved by a second helicopter. Gus would continue to fly as an astronaut on Gemini 3 and was slated to fly on Apollo 3, but I'll talk about those stories in another post.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. and Freedom 7
Hey all,
Alan Shepard became a pilot in 1947 for the Navy, and, by the end of 1950, he had completed the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and continued to be a test pilot until 1959. In that year, 110 military test pilots were invited to join the newly formed NASA. Of these men, only 7 would be picked for space flight. These men would become known as the Mercury 7 astronauts. Shepard numbered among this elite group and was chosen as the first American to fly into space (some say it was because he was the smartest of the men). Delays continually pushed back the launch date until Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Less than a month later on May 5th, 1961, Shepard would be the first American launched into space for a total of 15 minutes (I recommend reading or watching the Right Stuff for more details about this flight and other Mercury flights). The craft was appropriately named Freedom 7 and carried the man 116 miles into space on a sub-orbital trajectory. While Shepard did not orbit, his flight was still historic, and he was slated as a national hero on his return. The United States Space Program was moving forward, but they still lagged behind the Russians.
Alan Shepard became a pilot in 1947 for the Navy, and, by the end of 1950, he had completed the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and continued to be a test pilot until 1959. In that year, 110 military test pilots were invited to join the newly formed NASA. Of these men, only 7 would be picked for space flight. These men would become known as the Mercury 7 astronauts. Shepard numbered among this elite group and was chosen as the first American to fly into space (some say it was because he was the smartest of the men). Delays continually pushed back the launch date until Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Less than a month later on May 5th, 1961, Shepard would be the first American launched into space for a total of 15 minutes (I recommend reading or watching the Right Stuff for more details about this flight and other Mercury flights). The craft was appropriately named Freedom 7 and carried the man 116 miles into space on a sub-orbital trajectory. While Shepard did not orbit, his flight was still historic, and he was slated as a national hero on his return. The United States Space Program was moving forward, but they still lagged behind the Russians.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Yuri Gagarin and Vostok 1
Hey everyone,
Vostok 1 was the first rocket to take a man into space. That man was Yuri Gagarin, a pilot who was selected out of twenty cosmonauts. In 1960, the selection process began, and the men were subjected to physical and psychological endurance tests. Eventually, he was selected due to his performance in training and small stature (he stood 5'2" tall). On April 12, 1961, Gagarin was the first man launched into space. Once in space, he orbited the Earth (another first). He spent a total of 1 hour, 48 minutes in space. After his journey into space, Gagarin would become the deputy training director of the Star City cosmonaut training base. Later, he flew fighter jets again, but, tragically, on March 27, 1968, he would die in a fighter jet crash. Yet, his actions will always be historic, and, again, would prove that the Americans were losing the space race. Soon, they would respond.
Vostok 1 was the first rocket to take a man into space. That man was Yuri Gagarin, a pilot who was selected out of twenty cosmonauts. In 1960, the selection process began, and the men were subjected to physical and psychological endurance tests. Eventually, he was selected due to his performance in training and small stature (he stood 5'2" tall). On April 12, 1961, Gagarin was the first man launched into space. Once in space, he orbited the Earth (another first). He spent a total of 1 hour, 48 minutes in space. After his journey into space, Gagarin would become the deputy training director of the Star City cosmonaut training base. Later, he flew fighter jets again, but, tragically, on March 27, 1968, he would die in a fighter jet crash. Yet, his actions will always be historic, and, again, would prove that the Americans were losing the space race. Soon, they would respond.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Pioneer 4
Hey everyone,
This was the first probe launched by the United States to exit Earth's gravity. The craft flew by the moon and entered an orbit around the sun. It came within 60,000 kilometers of the moon. Pioneer 4 only weighed 6.1 kg, but it carried many devices including a photoelectric sensor, two Geiger-Muller tubes, and a transmitter. Again, mercury batteries were used to power the craft. It was launched on March 4, 1959 on the Juno II which was a modified version of Juno I (which launched Explorer I). It did not discover any radiation on the moon, and it also did not trigger its photoelectric sensor because it wasn't close enough to the moon. However, it did achieve the primary objective of an Earth-Moon trajectory. While this may not seem like an impressive (well, I hope it's impressive) feat, this and Luna 1 paved for the way for a journey to the moon by man.
This was the first probe launched by the United States to exit Earth's gravity. The craft flew by the moon and entered an orbit around the sun. It came within 60,000 kilometers of the moon. Pioneer 4 only weighed 6.1 kg, but it carried many devices including a photoelectric sensor, two Geiger-Muller tubes, and a transmitter. Again, mercury batteries were used to power the craft. It was launched on March 4, 1959 on the Juno II which was a modified version of Juno I (which launched Explorer I). It did not discover any radiation on the moon, and it also did not trigger its photoelectric sensor because it wasn't close enough to the moon. However, it did achieve the primary objective of an Earth-Moon trajectory. While this may not seem like an impressive (well, I hope it's impressive) feat, this and Luna 1 paved for the way for a journey to the moon by man.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Luna 1 (and 2)
Hey everyone,
The Luna 1 was the first cosmic ship to exit our atmosphere completely on a course for the moon. The spacecraft, itself, weighed 361.3kgs, and the tools that it contained included radio equipment, a tracking transmitter, a telemetry system, and five devices for studying the space between the Earth and the moon. It was launched by the Soviets on January 2, 1959, and it reached the moon on January 4th. The spacecraft found that the moon has no magnetic field, but it also took readings of solar wind and ionized plasma that came from the Sun on its journey. Upon reaching Earth's only satellite, the craft was supposed to crash into it, but there was a malfunction which caused the craft to miss by 5,900km. However, Luna 2 would succeed in this task. After missing the moon, the spacecraft went into orbit around the Sun and remains there today. When this first happened, the Soviets renamed it the Mechta which means dream and called it a new planet. Its orbit is between Earth and Mars with a period of approximately 450 days. While it did not strike the moon, it is still quite an achievement.
The Luna 1 was the first cosmic ship to exit our atmosphere completely on a course for the moon. The spacecraft, itself, weighed 361.3kgs, and the tools that it contained included radio equipment, a tracking transmitter, a telemetry system, and five devices for studying the space between the Earth and the moon. It was launched by the Soviets on January 2, 1959, and it reached the moon on January 4th. The spacecraft found that the moon has no magnetic field, but it also took readings of solar wind and ionized plasma that came from the Sun on its journey. Upon reaching Earth's only satellite, the craft was supposed to crash into it, but there was a malfunction which caused the craft to miss by 5,900km. However, Luna 2 would succeed in this task. After missing the moon, the spacecraft went into orbit around the Sun and remains there today. When this first happened, the Soviets renamed it the Mechta which means dream and called it a new planet. Its orbit is between Earth and Mars with a period of approximately 450 days. While it did not strike the moon, it is still quite an achievement.
Explorer 1
Hey everyone,
On February 1, 1958, the United States launched its first satellite into space. The satellite was designed and built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory headed by Wernher von Braun, and an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) known as the Juno I was used for the rocket. The satellite only weighed 14kg and had an elliptical orbit around the of 114.8 minutes. At its closest point, it was 222 miles from Earth, and, at its furthest point, it was 1585 miles from Earth. Through this orbit,the satellite was the first to identify the Van Allen radiation belt, but this would not be confirmed until Explorer 3. Being so light, it could only carry a limited amount of instruments. The specific instrumentation carried by the craft included a Geiger-Muller tube to detect cosmic rays, five temperature sensors, an acoustic detector, and a wire grid detector to detect micrometeorite impacts. The Geiger-Muller tube would record the disparities that would lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt. Overall, the mission lasted for 111 days before the power fully ran out, and the mission was a success.
On February 1, 1958, the United States launched its first satellite into space. The satellite was designed and built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory headed by Wernher von Braun, and an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) known as the Juno I was used for the rocket. The satellite only weighed 14kg and had an elliptical orbit around the of 114.8 minutes. At its closest point, it was 222 miles from Earth, and, at its furthest point, it was 1585 miles from Earth. Through this orbit,the satellite was the first to identify the Van Allen radiation belt, but this would not be confirmed until Explorer 3. Being so light, it could only carry a limited amount of instruments. The specific instrumentation carried by the craft included a Geiger-Muller tube to detect cosmic rays, five temperature sensors, an acoustic detector, and a wire grid detector to detect micrometeorite impacts. The Geiger-Muller tube would record the disparities that would lead to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt. Overall, the mission lasted for 111 days before the power fully ran out, and the mission was a success.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sputnik
Hey everyone,
I'm sure that many of you know that Sputnik was the first human-made object launched into space. The first true ICBM, known to the Soviets as the R-7 Semyorka, was used to launch Sputnik after only one successful launch of the rocket. Word of a possible rocket launch appeared in the Western press, and the Soviet rocket men (Korolyov and others) decided that they could beat the Americans into space. They threw together a simple design in a less than a month. Sputnik would included a polished metal sphere, a transmitter, thermal measuring instruments, and batteries. It weighed 83.6kg. On October 4, 1957, the rocket was launched successfully into orbit. Its orbits lasted about 96 minutes. The start of the Soviet Space Program had begun along with the space race. This would be the first launch of many Sputniks. Future missions would include canine passengers and the eventual preparation for human spaceflight. However, it would not be long before the Americans would launch their own satellite.
I'm sure that many of you know that Sputnik was the first human-made object launched into space. The first true ICBM, known to the Soviets as the R-7 Semyorka, was used to launch Sputnik after only one successful launch of the rocket. Word of a possible rocket launch appeared in the Western press, and the Soviet rocket men (Korolyov and others) decided that they could beat the Americans into space. They threw together a simple design in a less than a month. Sputnik would included a polished metal sphere, a transmitter, thermal measuring instruments, and batteries. It weighed 83.6kg. On October 4, 1957, the rocket was launched successfully into orbit. Its orbits lasted about 96 minutes. The start of the Soviet Space Program had begun along with the space race. This would be the first launch of many Sputniks. Future missions would include canine passengers and the eventual preparation for human spaceflight. However, it would not be long before the Americans would launch their own satellite.
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