Plans for Sputnik 50th Anniversary?

I've really seen nothing about any plans for commemoration... anyone
know of any? Books, films, conferences, ceremonies, etc?

Thanks,

Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com

Matt wrote:
I've really seen nothing about any plans for commemoration... anyone
know of any? Books, films, conferences, ceremonies, etc?

Thanks,

Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com


BBC News
Friday, 8 October, 2004, 14:00 GMT 15:00 UK

Anniversary launch for 'nanosats'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3725864.stm

Fifty mini-satellites are to be sent into space to celebrate the launch
of the first such object, Sputnik 1.

The "nanosats", each weighing 1kg, will blast into orbit on board an
Ariane rocket in 2007, said Arianespace.

Each satellite will represent a nation, and will do small-scale
research experiments during two years in orbit.

The former Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 was the size of a basketball and
became the first artificial satellite of the Earth on 4 October, 1957.

"Just like 50 years ago, when the first manmade Earth satellite was
launched, these nanosatellites will signal a new era for scientists
worldwide," said Jean-Yves Le Gall, chief executive officer for
Arianespace.

The company markets launch services for the European Space Agency
(Esa).

"Arianespace is very proud to be participating in this commemoration,"
he added. "Supporting science and research is an integral part of our
assigned mission."

Space race

Compared with Sputnik which weighed 83kg, nanosatellites weigh under
10kg and can be sent up in clusters in low-Earth orbit, which is less
than 2,000km above the planet's surface.

Increased miniaturisation of electronic and mechanical components has
made it possible to construct much smaller and lighter satellites.

These satellites can significantly reduce the cost of access to space
for many nations and can be used in groups, or swarms, for Earth
observation.

UK satellite company Surrey Satellite Technology Limited has developed
small satellites, like SNAP-1 which was launched in June 2000.

It weighed 6.5kg and carried micro-miniature GPS navigation, camera
technology, onboard computing, propulsion and attitude control
technologies.

Commercial telecommunications satellites are costly, commonly as big as
buses, and can weigh up to eight tonnes.

At the time of Sputnik 1's historic launch, which was described as "the
simplest kind of baby moon", the US and the Soviet Union were in a race
to space.

Some voiced concerned about its launch because its orbit would take it
over the US seven times.

Others speculated that its launcher rocket could be capable of carrying
a nuclear weapon thousands of kilometres.

Sputnik 1 was followed a month later by Sputnik 2, which carried the
first living creature, a dog called Laika, into space.

In December 1957, a US rocket carrying a test satellite exploded. The
US successfully launched its first satellite, Explorer, in February
1958.

The mission for 2007 was announced at the International Astronautical
Federation (IAF) congress in Vancouver, Canada.

Matt wrote:
I've really seen nothing about any plans for commemoration... anyone
know of any? Books, films, conferences, ceremonies, etc?

Thanks,

Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com


See Page 13 - "International Heliophysical Year 2007:"

"International IHY Symposium associated with the Sputnik 50th
Anniversary Celebration will be held in 2007 in Space Research
Institute, Moscow, and related to the World Space Week. Dates October
8-14, 2007, Moscow:"


http://www.bu.edu/cawses/documents/3...ijing_2006.pdf




Rusty

Rusty wrote:
Matt wrote:
I've really seen nothing about any plans for commemoration... anyone
know of any? Books, films, conferences, ceremonies, etc?

Thanks,

Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com


See Page 13 - "International Heliophysical Year 2007:"

"International IHY Symposium associated with the Sputnik 50th
Anniversary Celebration will be held in 2007 in Space Research
Institute, Moscow, and related to the World Space Week. Dates October
8-14, 2007, Moscow:"


http://www.bu.edu/cawses/documents/3...ijing_2006.pdf




Rusty

================================================== =====

http://ihy2007.org/events/events.shtml

October 4-6, 2007
Sputnik 50th Anniversary Celebration and Symposium
Washington DC, USA
IHY Contacts: Joe DAVILA and Barbara THOMPSON

================================================== =====

http://www.bairdpetro.com/egy/boulder_2006.htm


On October 4, 2007, SEG shall join NASA and representatives of other
countries in the 50th anniversary celebration of the successful launch
on October 4, 1957 of the Russian artificial satellite Sputnik.

For more information, contact the chairman of the eGY 2007 - 2008 ad
hoc Committee:

Ralph Baird, Chairman
SEG ad hoc Committee eGY 2007 - 2008
1784 W Sam Houston Pkwy N
Houston, Texas 77043 U.S.A.

================================================== =====


Rusty

Rusty wrote:
Matt wrote:
I've really seen nothing about any plans for commemoration... anyone
know of any? Books, films, conferences, ceremonies, etc?

Thanks,

Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com




http://www.si.edu/about/budget/2007/...paceMuseum.pdf

To recognize the 50th anniversary of Sputnik's launch and the birth
of the
space age, NASM will open a new exhibit in October 2007. In addition,
the
Museum will continue planning the next two galleries, Exploring the
Planets and
Human Space Exploration in the Shuttle/Space Station Era. Other
galleries will
be evaluated for upgrades, and installation of new artifacts at the
Udvar-Hazy
Center will continue throughout FY 2007.


Rusty

Here's a radical proposal to take to the Russians - how about a
decent color still of the launch??


http://www.si.edu/about/budget/2007/...paceMuseum.pdf

To recognize the 50th anniversary of Sputnik's launch and the birth
of the
space age, NASM will open a new exhibit in October 2007. In addition,
the
Museum will continue planning the next two galleries, Exploring the
Planets and
Human Space Exploration in the Shuttle/Space Station Era. Other
galleries will
be evaluated for upgrades, and installation of new artifacts at the
Udvar-Hazy
Center will continue throughout FY 2007.


Rusty

Guy Parry wrote:

Here's a radical proposal to take to the Russians - how about a
decent color still of the launch??



True...we've got the R-7 ICBM, we've got Sputnik 2, but where the hell
is Sputnik 1?
I imagine the fact that it launched at night had a lot to do with it.
Next question is obviously why did it need to launch at night? It was
battery powered, so sun position had nothing to do with it.
I'd have to check, but I'd bet the launching was originally intended for
daylight but got delayed.
Either that, or they wanted to track it visually on its first few orbits
as it crossed the dark sky shortly prior to sunrise to determine its
exact orbit by the time of its appearance and position in the sky.
So both Sputnik 1 and Explorer1 went up by night- the dawn of space
exploration started at night on both sides. :-)

Pat

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
...

So both Sputnik 1 and Explorer1 went up by night- the dawn of space
exploration started at night on both sides. :-)

All dawns start at night, I think

"Neil Gerace" wrote in message
...

"Pat Flannery" wrote in message
...

So both Sputnik 1 and Explorer1 went up by night- the dawn of space
exploration started at night on both sides. :-)

All dawns start at night, I think

When is it not after midnight?

Neil Gerace wrote:



So both Sputnik 1 and Explorer1 went up by night- the dawn of space
exploration started at night on both sides. :-)



All dawns start at night, I think


Yeah, and the darkest part of night at that. ;-)
You'd be able to get a lot more precise tracking data to establish a
satellite's orbit visually than by radio signals.
Unlike later Soviet unmanned spacecraft, Sputnik 1 was pressurized with
nitrogen, not helium. It did have a small fan inside it to circulate the
gas for thermal control.
I don't know at what point they changed gases, but helium has the
advantages of high thermal conductivity and excellent chemical
inertness, so that possible chemical interaction with the internal
electronics could be avoided (i.e. corrosion between plugs and their
sockets). One advantage of gas pressurization is that vacuum welding of
moving metal components can be avoided.

Pat