Sputnik (3)

Sputnik (3)
Phase : E1 / Status : destroyed
Model of the Sputnik (3)
Type:	Research satellite
Country:	Soviet Union
Mission dates
Start date:	April 27, 1958, 09:01 UTC
Starting place:	Baikonur starting place 1
Launcher:	Sputnik (8A91)
Mission duration:	approx. 97 seconds
End date:	April 27, 1958, 09:02 UTC
Orbit data
Origin of coordinates:	Earth (planned)
General spacecraft data
Takeoff mass:	1327 kg
Dimensions:	conical body (length: 3.57 m, diameter: 1.73 m)
Manufacturer:	OKB 1
Payload data
Satellite bus	D-1
Instruments:	12: Sensors for pressure, temperature and composition of the atmosphere, radiation measuring devices, sensors for electric and magnetic fields
Others
Previous mission:	Explorer 3
Subsequent mission:	Vanguard TV5
February 05, 1958 begin February 05, 1958 Satellite is lost in the event of a false start

Sputnik (3) (also known as D1-1 ) was a Soviet research satellite from the Sputnik series. It was supposed to be the most complex of its time so far, but it got lost in a false start. It was originally supposed to be called Sputnik 3, but the Soviets renamed it because of the failure.

technology

At 1327 kg, it was the heaviest satellite ever built. Since it was too heavy for the Sputnik launch rocket version 8K71PS, with which Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2 had been launched, OKB 1 , the supplier of the Sputnik rocket, developed a new version, the Sputnik 8A91. The 8A91 was a transition construction between the first test model of the R-7 (8K71) and the operational R-7A (8K74). Improvements in manufacturing processes have been used to reduce the thickness of the baffles in the fuel tanks, thereby reducing weight. The engines were a little more powerful and the mass changes led to changes in the flight plan - the four side boosters were throttled by 25% before being released. Sputnik (3) consisted of a conical pressure body. The lifespan was estimated to be around 1 month as it was powered by batteries. There were no stabilization systems. A cassette recorder recorded the data and enabled the playback of data from parts of the orbit beyond the range of ground stations. The scientific instruments included a magnetometer and a field mill electrometer for measuring fields in space, four space radiation detectors for examining cosmic and solar particle radiation, a mass spectrometer and two pressure gauges for analyzing the dilute outer atmosphere, an ion trap for measuring plasma and a piezoelectric microphone for measuring Counting micrometeorite hits. There was also an experimental solar battery on board that powered one of the transmitters.

History / flight history

Sputnik (3) was supposed to be the world's first artificial satellite, but due to delays in production, a smaller test satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched without further ado. The start of the Sputnik (3) was originally planned for April 20, 1958, but was postponed by one week to April 27 due to technical delays. On that day, lifted Sputnik - rocket Sputnik (3) on board from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on. A low earth orbit (LEO) was headed for. In the first minute everything went according to plan, but after about 90 seconds of flight a booster detached and crashed into the core stage. This caused the missile to crash from a height of 224 km. Technicians observing the course of the flight noticed the change in flight path angle to negative numbers, followed by a complete loss of signal. The latest data received indicated that the missile had flown 227 kilometers with loss of signal. Telemetry data evaluated later showed that strong vibrations, which were caused by the pogo effect , which was not yet known at the time, stressed the booster at T +90 seconds until structural failure seven seconds later. A search party located the point of impact. The satellite had separated from the launcher and was recovered largely intact near the crash site. It was brought back to Baikonur for repairs, but a fire caused by a short circuit in the electronics segment had destroyed the interior part. It was decided not to reuse it and to build a replacement satellite, Sputnik 3 , which was finally launched on May 15, 1958.

swell

• Sputnik 3 (D-1 # 1, 2) at Gunter's Space Page (English).
• Statistics on all starts of the R-7 at bernd-leitenberger.de.