Sputnik 2
| Sputnik 2 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase : F / Status : burned out | ||||||||||
_0237.jpg) Model of the Sputnik-2 capsule |
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| Type: | Research satellite | |||||||||
| Country: |
 Soviet Union
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| Organization: | OKB 1 | |||||||||
| COSPAR designation : | 1957-002A | |||||||||
| NORAD / SCN-ID : | 3 | |||||||||
| Mission dates | ||||||||||
| Start date: | November 3, 1957, 02:30:00 UTC | |||||||||
| Starting place: | Baikonur starting place 1 | |||||||||
| Launcher: | Sputnik (8K71PS) | |||||||||
| Mission duration: | 162 days | |||||||||
| End date: | April 14, 1958 | |||||||||
| Orbit data | ||||||||||
| Origin of coordinates: | earth | |||||||||
| Rotation time : | 103.73 min | |||||||||
| Apogee : | 1,660 km | |||||||||
| Perigee : | 212 km | |||||||||
| Eccentricity : | 0.0990965 | |||||||||
| Orbit inclination : | 65.3 ° | |||||||||
| General spacecraft data | ||||||||||
| Takeoff mass: | 508.3 kg (payload) | |||||||||
| Dimensions: | 2 m diameter, 4 m height | |||||||||
| Specific spacecraft data | ||||||||||
| Drive system : | First stage of the launcher | |||||||||
| Payload data | ||||||||||
| Instruments: |
Two Geiger counters, solar research |
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| Others | ||||||||||
| Previous mission: |
Sputnik 1 | |||||||||
| Subsequent mission: |
Vanguard TV3 | |||||||||
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Sputnik 2 (pronunciation ˈsputʲnʲɪk , Russian Спутник for companion, companion, satellite (of the earth ) ) was a Soviet research satellite from the Sputnik series . It was also the second artificial satellite after Sputnik 1 . On board the spacecraft was the dog Laika , the first living being in orbit around the earth.
construction
Sputnik 2 consisted of three units mounted in a conical frame with a total mass of 508 kg. At the top was a container in which instruments for measuring solar radiation and far UV radiation were housed. The middle unit was a sealed spherical shell, essentially the same as the one on Sputnik 1, and contained the batteries and transmitters. There was a cabin underneath to carry the test dog. This cabin was derived from the systems that had flown on the suborbital rocket R-2A . Unlike the previous system, it was not designed to re-enter the earth's atmosphere . Therefore, it was accepted that the dog flying that flight would die if the system ran out of supplies after approximately 7 days. A re-entry with rescue of the bitch was not planned and especially at this point technically impossible. The experiment unit also housed two Geiger counters .
While in orbit, Sputnik 2 remained attached to the main stage to allow the telemetry system to transmit scientific data.
The aluminum dog cubicle was 80 cm long and 64 cm in diameter. A fan on the top was used to control the temperature. To the right and left of the dog there were two large potassium superoxide plates that were supposed to react with carbon dioxide and water vapor and release oxygen .
Feed and water were provided at the same time by a gelatinous nutrient composed of water, agar-agar , dry bread powder, meat powder and beef tallow . This was provided in portions by the donor so the dog could eat at regular intervals. Water was filled into a 3 liter tank and should last for seven days. That is how long the oxygen generation would last. Urine and feces were collected through a tight-fitting bag.
The passenger, a 6 kg mixed breed dog named Laika, was equipped with implanted electrodes and blood pressure sensors to monitor vital signs .
Mission history
The launch was successfully carried out on November 3, 1957, just 29 days, 7 hours, 1 minute and 26 seconds after Sputnik 1, and the spacecraft entered low earth orbit (LEO) a short time later . Telemetry from Laika was transmitted during launch and the first few orbits, but Laika died after a few hours in orbit due to overheating and stress.
The solar X-ray experiment provided data, but appeared to be blocked by intense radiation that had no connection with the direction of the sun. The project leaders found no explanation and did not publish the results. Therefore, the Van Allen radiation belt was discovered by the US Explorer 1 satellite about two months later .
Six days after the launch, on November 10, 1957, the batteries were largely exhausted and the sensors stopped transmitting data. Sputnik 2 re-entered the earth's atmosphere on April 14, 1958 after 162 days in orbit.
Sputnik 1 and 2 were simple payloads that were supposed to orbit the earth before the more complex Sputnik 3 satellite was ready.
Web links
- Sputnik 2 (PS-2 # 1) at Gunter’s Space Page (English).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Elizabeth Dohrer, SPACE com Contributor | May 30, 2017 10:39 pm ET: Laika the Dog & the First Animals in Space. Retrieved January 23, 2019 .