October, 4th - beginning of the Space Era!

In 2012 we are celebrating the 55th anniversary of the first world artificial Earth satellite launch, which became the first step on the mankind’s way to Space.

4th October, 1957 at 22:28 (MDT) the intercontinental ballistic missile R-7 with artificial Earth satellite in its head started into the space. The launch took place on the Department’s of Defense proof ground of USSR called “Tjura-Tum” (afterwards it was called cosmodrome “Baikonur”). The ballistic missile imparted to the satellite the orbital velocity of 8000 meters per second.

Reference designation of the satellite was ES-1 (1st elemental satellite). It had the shape of a sphere with 58 cm in diameter and the weight of 83,6 kg. Two radio transmitters were installed there. They aired audible signals uninterruptedly. The scientists, leading the project ES-1 (M.S. Rjazanskiy, M.V. Keldysh, M.K. Tihonravov, N.S. Lidorenko, ect.) under the direction of S.P. Korolev longing to hear the cherished signals with their hearts sinking. In a few minutes after the launch, M.S. Riazanskiy appealed to S.P. Korolev with words: “Congratulations, Sergey!”. Power of the installed transmitters allowed to hear the sound signals for radio audience all over the world. Radio and TV-channels interrupted their programs just to hear these sounds. People came outside and watched the night sky: among usual fixed stars the only one was moving.

The USSR became the first world power, that had launched the first artificial Earth satellite. This very launch marked the beginning of the space era of mankind saga. Nowadays in Russia this date is celebrated as the memorable day of Space Forces and triumph of the scientific thought.

To commemorate this event in 1958 the monument “To the creators of the first artificial Earth satellite” was founded near the hall of “Rizhskaya” metro-station. It is the sculpture of a worker holding ES-1 with his raised right hand.

January 4, 1985 after 92 days on the orbit and completing 1440 revolutions ES-1 was brought back to the Earth. But when it was burning in the upper layer of the atmosphere, on the orbit there already was the second artificial satellite ES-2.