This was the first satellite in the near-earth orbit

Early autumn morning of 1957, to be exact 3October, at the Baikonur cosmodrome, the carrier rocket of the world's first artificial Earth satellite was carefully placed in a vertical position. The enormous work of many collectives of the whole Soviet Union approached its logical outcome. There were forty more hours of checks, debugging and unrest, but the appearance of the spaceship already inspired some conviction in the success of such a difficult affair. He was beautiful. The weather was frosty, and the whole rocket, fueled by a railroad tank standing nearby, was covered with frost, sparkling in the sun, like diamond dust.

The first Soviet satellite was FS-1, and it was alreadyin the bow of the ship, was small (weighed less than 84 kilograms), spherical, its diameter was 580 mm. Inside it, in an atmosphere of dried nitrogen, there was an electronic unit, which by the standards of today's achievements could seem too simple. However, it is not necessary to hurry with conclusions - a rather complicated algorithm was implemented on the lamp element base and using mechanical automatic devices. When the first satellite separated from its carrier, four pin antennas emerged from it, ensuring stable transmission of the radio signal in all directions. To orient the position of the device in space was then a premature measure, and the omnidirectionality of the emitters solved the problem of alerting ground services about the operation of the systems and the location in orbit.

The translation was conducted alternately by two single-valuedtransmitter, after demodulation it was a sound signal in the form of a "dash", and in the event that the operation of any of the nodes became abnormal, the "beep" would sound more often. The radio calls received by radio amateurs had to testify that the first satellite actually rotates in orbit.

The equipment needed to observe strict

temperature regime, and it was supported by built-in fan heaters.

The first satellite brought into orbit the carrier R-7, onThat moment the newest, having the secret code of the "8K71PS" object. This was only the fifth launch of a missile, set up in the design bureau, headed by S.P. The Queen. Its main and primary purpose is the delivery of nuclear munitions, the goal is the American continent. But this formidable technique also found peaceful application - to bring the first satellite into near-Earth space.

The general designer was not easy to convinceleadership in the need for space flights, and when it succeeded, the deadlines were very stringent. The work of various ministries and departments was carried out simultaneously, much was unknown, and the technologies were developed as tasks and problems arose. The first satellite was created on schedule.

AT 10 O'CLOCK:28 pm in Moscow, on October 4, the rocket soared into the sky, and soon TASS announced the realization of the long-standing dream of all mankind - travel to distant galaxies became a real opportunity, proved in practice.

High on the heads of the inhabitants of the whole planet flewa small asterisk, the first companion. The USSR became his homeland, scientists, engineers and workers - his creators, and there was no limit to the jubilation of the whole people who felt their involvement in this achievement.

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