Sputnik-1 50 years anniversary

Celestia simulation of the first Sputnik-1 orbits. The orbital elements are tabulated in the NORAD archives and they are valid for October 1957, after the high atmosphere drag and other low orbit perturbations caused the decay of the orbit until the satellite catastrophic reentry in the atmosphere in January, 1958. It reproduces quite well the reported passages. Attitude is an inertial extrapolation of the attitude of the launcher after the deployment. The rotation period (around 6 revolutions per minute) was derived from the observed rotation of the Faraday field of the antenna dipoles. Rotation around the major revolution axis was derived and reported by Bracewell and Garriot in 1958 in a paper in nature.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Sputnik-1
• satellite

[eagle416]

I am honored to have by birthday on october 4. I am proud of sputnik for instigating our rapid technological development

[fgalue]

Good Simulation. That could be the Sputnik on orbit being watched by imaginary observer on orbit too