By:Amanda Biernesser
The Soviet Sputnik mission was the first ever to launch a satellite into space. This project, conducted by the Russian government, started in the mid-1950s. It consisted of four individual satellites, three of which reached orbit.
The first Sputnik was launched on October 4, 1957. It was a metallic sphere, two feet in diameter, weighing 184 pounds. It had long antennae pointing out of one side. Sputnik #1 was designed to send radio signals to earth and determine the density of the atmosphere, although it only transmitted signals to earth a short time after launch. It's rocket booster, weighing 4 tons, also reached orbit, and was easily visible from the ground. Eventually the satellite's orbit decayed, and on January 4, 1958, Sputnik #1 fell back to earth.
The second Sputnik was launched on November 3, 1957. It carried a husky, named Laika. Biological data was returned for approximately one week, and was the first data of its kind. Unfortunately, there was no possible safe reentry at the time, and Laika was put to sleep after one week in orbit. The satellite itself stayed in orbit about 162 days.
There was a Sputnik launched between numbers 2 and 3, but it failed to ever reach orbit.
The third Sputnik was launched on May 15, 1958. It might have originally been intended as the first launch in the Sputnik program, but it was apparently decided to be more cautious in the launch schedule. Sputnik #3 was designed to be a geographical laboratory, performing experiments on the earth's magnetic field, radiation belt, and ionosphere. It orbited the earth and transmitted data until April 6, 1960, when its orbit decayed.
All the Sputniks were launched using the SS-6, or Sapwood rocket. It was originally designed as a ballistic missile, and had its upper stage modified slightly to hold the Sputnik payload. It had two stages and four strap-on booster rockets for the first stage, connected to the second stage rocket. The primary stage used RD-107 engines, which provided 100,000 kilograms of thrust. Both stages were powered by LOX/Kerosene.