Religions > Atheism > OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today?
| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"johac" |
| Date: |
04 Oct 2007 12:36:06 AM |
| Object: |
OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today? |
October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik. It scared the pants off
of the US, began the Space Race, and led to a big science push.
<more at site>
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BBC NEWS
Q&A: Sputnik
What was Sputnik?
Sputnik was the world's first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR
on 4 October 1957.
It was a major technical achievement and propaganda coup for the Soviets.
The event marked the beginning of the space age and also the space race
between the US and the USSR.
After blasting off on an R-7 rocket from the Tyuratam missile range in
Kazakhstan, Sputnik took 98 minutes to orbit Earth on an elliptical path.
In the early 1950s, Soviet rocket engineer Sergei Korolev had campaigned
for an artificial satellite to be launched before the start of
International Geophysical Year (IGY) - guaranteeing a first place finish
ahead of America.
Whoever controls space controls the world
Senator Lyndon Johnson
1980's cosmonaut
Designated to begin in July 1957, the IGY was timed to coincide with a
period when the Sun would be emitting a large amount of radiation.
Western scientists were planning a variety of experiments to study
Earth's upper atmosphere during this period. A satellite equipped with
an array of scientific instruments was intended to form the centrepiece
of proceedings.
In January 1956, Korolev got his wish. The Soviet government approved
his plan after hearing the US was preparing for its own satellite launch.
Did Sputnik carry experiments into space?
Sputnik was able to transmit some temperature and density measurements
to the ground, demonstrating that spacecraft could supply valuable
information from space.
But it was a very rudimentary satellite and did not contain any specific
experiments. It consisted of a polished sphere measuring 58.5cm (22.8in)
in diameter and weighing 84kg (184lb) with trailing, whip-like antennas.
Korolev's team of engineers had originally planned to launch a more
complex satellite weighing over 1,000kg and carrying an array of
scientific instruments. This was known as Object D.
By mid-1956, this project was lagging behind schedule and Korolev was
beginning to worry that the Americans would beat him to space.
The Soviet team decided to scrub the original plan and opt for a
lighter, simpler design. Korolev ordered his team to work around the
clock on the new project, called PS-1.
At 1928 GMT, on 4 October 1957, an R-7 rocket blasted off from the
remote Kazakh steppe carrying PS-1 on board.
Hours later, the satellite engineers heard the "beep, beep, beep" of
Sputnik's signal coming in over the radio, confirming the satellite had
entered orbit around the Earth.
What were the immediate effects?
Soviet state media were slow to recognise the significance of the
launch. Pravda devoted only a few paragraphs on its front page to
"Sputnik" (the Russian word for satellite).
Only four or five days later did we realize that it was a turning
point in the history of civilization
Boris Chertok, Korolev's deputy
The rest of the world was stunned by the launch; before Sputnik, the US
had been widely expected to win the satellite race.
The news provoked mass hysteria in the United States. Many Americans
linked the Sputnik launch with a Soviet capability to deliver ballistic
missiles to targets in the US.
The New York Times declared that America was in a race for survival.
Senator Lyndon Johnson warned: "Whoever controls space controls the
world".
According to Sergei Khrushchev, son of Sputnik-era Soviet premier
Nikita, the relatively nonchalant reaction in the USSR was due to a
general belief that, step-by-step, their country would edge ahead of
America as a world power.
Boris Chertok, 95, who was Korolev's deputy, said: "At that moment we
couldn't fully understand what we had done.
"We felt ecstatic about it only later, when the entire world ran amok.
Only four or five days later did we realize that it was a turning point
in the history of civilization."
How were US satellite projects doing?
In 1955, the White House had solicited proposals from government
agencies to undertake development of an artificial satellite.
A US Army proposal, spearheaded by German-born rocket scientist Wernher
von Braun, was eventually rejected in favour of the US Navy's Project
Vanguard.
Von Braun had designed the V-2 missiles for Nazi Germany during WWII,
but surrendered to American forces in 1945. He was transported to the US
- along with many other V-2 engineers - to develop missiles for America.
The German rocket designer, who had long harboured dreams of working on
space vehicles, refused to give up after the initial rejection of his
proposal.
He continued to seek approval for launching his own satellite; but his
repeated pleas fell on deaf ears, even as Project Vanguard slipped
behind schedule.
Then, in November 1957, the Soviet Union rubbed salt in America's wounds
by launching Sputnik 2, carrying a female dog called Laika on board.
The Pentagon gave into von Braun and allowed him to join the satellite
race.
Vanguard made it to the launch pad first. On 6 December 1957, the Navy
rocket climbed into the air from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a televised
launch. Unfortunately, it only climbed a few feet before losing thrust
and exploding on the launch pad.
The US was spared further humiliation when von Braun successfully
launched his Explorer I satellite on 29 January 1958.
The space race had begun in earnest.
---
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6937964.stm
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
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| User: "Meteorite Debris" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today? |
04 Oct 2007 01:06:37 AM |
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Last time that great scribe johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
chipped away at his/her stone these gems of wisdom for posterity ...
October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik. It scared the pants off
of the US, began the Space Race, and led to a big science push.
For a few years in the 50s Soviet economic growth was outstripping the
USA and Sputnik on top only frightened the Americans more. Probably the
good economic performance of the Soviet came to starting from a very low
war damaged base with easy gains. By the 60s Soviet growth was sluggish
thereafter.
--
Remove both YOUR_SHOES before replying
apatriot #1, atheist #1417,
Chief EAC prophet
Jason Gastrich is praying for me on 8 January 2009
Apatriotism Yahoo Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apatriotism
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make
you commit atrocities." - Voltaire
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today? |
04 Oct 2007 11:56:02 PM |
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In article <MPG.216f26f1e4d3e3f2989885@news.ade.connect.com.au>,
Meteorite Debris <epicurusboth@YOUR_SHOESaapt.net.au> wrote:
Last time that great scribe johac <jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net>
chipped away at his/her stone these gems of wisdom for posterity ...
October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik. It scared the pants off
of the US, began the Space Race, and led to a big science push.
For a few years in the 50s Soviet economic growth was outstripping the
USA and Sputnik on top only frightened the Americans more. Probably the
good economic performance of the Soviet came to starting from a very low
war damaged base with easy gains. By the 60s Soviet growth was sluggish
thereafter.
Yeah. The US went through a mild recession in the 50's, due in no small
part to industry having to retool after WW2. Besides initiating the
space race, Sputink gave birth to the aerospace industry, which led in
great part to the development of the military industrial complex which
Eisenhower warned us about.
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "Douglas Berry" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today? |
04 Oct 2007 07:50:32 AM |
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On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:36:06 -0700 johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> carved the following into the hard
stone of alt.atheism
October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik. It scared the pants off
of the US, began the Space Race, and led to a big science push.
Great video of the filk song "Surprise!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-mZ9pKvCmk
Happy Sputnik Day!
--
Douglas Berry Do the OBVIOUS thing to send e-mail
Atheist #2147, Atheist Vet #5
Jason Gastrich is praying for me on 8 January 2011
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the
source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a
stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as
good as dead: his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Anyone know which 50th anniversary we celebrate today? |
04 Oct 2007 11:48:25 PM |
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In article <qbo9g3hfnk8t749tnn3f0d0u6vjp7kimji@4ax.com>,
Douglas Berry <penguin_boy@mindOBVIOUSspring.com> wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:36:06 -0700 johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> carved the following into the hard
stone of alt.atheism
October 4, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik. It scared the pants off
of the US, began the Space Race, and led to a big science push.
Great video of the filk song "Surprise!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-mZ9pKvCmk
Happy Sputnik Day!
--
That video is great! Thanks!
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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