A photo from open sources Today the whole world marks the beginning of space era. Exactly 55 years ago, the R-7 rocket launched from Baikonur with the first artificial Earth satellite on board. Preparations for the launch were underway. in an extremely short time. Sergey Korolev even shifted the start date to a couple of days early to get ahead of the US with a guarantee. – On duty fire brigades accept number one preparedness. Ignition. Preliminary. The main thing. Rise. 1957 year. It takes place in Moscow International festival of youth and students trying Khrushchev oust the general secretary, and John Lennon meets Paul McCartney. The Soviet Union begins the space age by launching the first artificial satellite of the Earth. “We transmit an important TASS message. 4 October 1957, a successful launch was made in the Soviet Union the world’s first artificial Earth satellite “, – in these words the young announcer of the State Radio and Television Igor Kirillov. It was the first victory in the confrontation of two space powers. It began in 1955 when US President Dwight Eisenhower said: “After 2 years, the United States will launch the first artificial moon. “So the Americans called their satellite. Message from overseas perceived as a challenge. The answer immediately followed: right there approved a special commission for the development of the Soviet program artificial satellite of the Earth.
A photo from open sources
“There was information that they don’t sleep overseas, that they want something there too. And they also want to be the first because everyone well understood the priority of this event, “- says Oleg Ivanovsky, Designer of the first artificial Earth satellite. At that time, they began testing the legendary Sergei R-7 rocket The Queen and instead of the satellite could launch a hydrogen bomb. However two deadly missiles were not found, and the main the designer obtained permission to use rockets for peaceful goals. “We had to think about how perfect the rocket use. Not only as a carrier of destructive combat charge, but also use it in order to somehow implement dream of interplanetary travel, “recalls Boris Chertok, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The PS-1 device – the simplest satellite – the first one weighed only 84 kilograms. The launch was scheduled for October 6. But Korolev unexpectedly shifts the term. There was information that the Americans are launching their the satellite is also October 6th. “And Korolev gave instructions to reduce training. We went to a certain technical risk, unconditional, and launched on October 4. Such sharpness was, day in and day out – who will launch the first satellite, “explains Georgy Grechko, cosmonaut, twice Hero of the Soviet Union. At 315 seconds after the launch of the rocket, a separation of the satellite occurred, and he filed his vote. The reaction of the world community was stormy. Simple form satellite – a ball and four antennas – has become a symbol of the era, and Russian the word “satellite” has since entered into many languages of the world. In bars Western Europe appeared cocktails “Sputnik”, in dance halls a variety of rock and roll – also “Satellite”. And hairdressers even came up with new model hairstyles. The first satellite existed in orbit 92 days. When in early January 1958 he burned down in the upper atmosphere, in orbit already flew the second Soviet apparatus. Thus began the space age.
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