October 4 marks the Day of the Beginning of the Space Age of Mankind, proclaimed by the International Astronautical Federation in September 1967. On this day, October 4, 1957, the world's first artificial Earth satellite was launched in the USSR.
Scientists Mstislav Keldysh, Mikhail Tikhonravov, Nikolai Lidorenko, Vladimir Lapko, Boris worked on its creation, led by the founder of practical cosmonautics Sergei Korolev Chekunov and many others.
While developing long-range ballistic missiles and especially the R-7 intercontinental missile, Sergei Korolev constantly returned to the idea of practical space exploration. On May 27, 1954, he approached the USSR Minister of Defense Industry Dmitry Ustinov with a proposal to develop an artificial Earth satellite (AES). In June 1955, a memo was prepared on the organization of work on space objects, and in August of the same year, data on the parameters of the spacecraft for the flight to the Moon was prepared.
The resolution on work on artificial satellites was adopted on January 30, 1956. Initially it was assumed that it would be more complex and difficult. However, the work was delayed, and it was decided to develop the simplest possible device so as not to lose primacy to the United States involved in a similar project.
In January 1957, Korolev sent a memo to the USSR Council of Ministers. In it, he said that in April-June 1957, two missiles in the satellite version could be prepared “and launched immediately after the first successful launches of an intercontinental missile.” The first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile was successfully launched on August 21, 1957.
The satellite, which became the first artificial celestial body, was launched into orbit on October 4, 1957 by an R-7 launch vehicle from the 5th Research Test Site of the USSR Ministry of Defense , which later received the open name Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The launched spacecraft PS-1 (the simplest satellite-1) was a ball with a diameter of 58 centimeters, weighed 83.6 kilograms, and was equipped with four pin antennas 2.4 and 2.9 meters long for transmitting signals from battery-powered transmitters. 295 seconds after launch, PS-1 and the central block of the rocket, weighing 7.5 tons, were launched into an elliptical orbit with an altitude of 947 kilometers at apogee and 288 kilometers at perigee. At 315 seconds after launch, the artificial Earth satellite separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle, and its call signs were immediately heard by the whole world.
The PS-1 satellite flew for 92 days, until January 4, 1958, completing 1,440 revolutions around the Earth (about 60 million kilometers), and its radio transmitters operated for two weeks after launch.
The launch of an artificial Earth satellite was of great importance for understanding the properties of outer space and studying the Earth as a planet in our solar system. Analysis of the received signals from the satellite gave scientists the opportunity to study the upper layers of the ionosphere, which was not possible before. In addition, information about the operating conditions of the equipment, useful for further launches, was obtained, all calculations were checked, and the density of the upper layers of the atmosphere was determined by braking the satellite.
The launch of the first artificial Earth satellite received a huge worldwide resonance. The whole world saw his flight. Almost the entire world press talked about this event.
To commemorate the achievements of the Soviet people in the exploration of outer space, on October 4, 1964, a monument to the Conquerors of Space was opened in Moscow on Mira Avenue. It is a 107-meter-high obelisk depicting the trail left behind by a rocket located on its top. The foot of the monument is surrounded by high relief figures of people — scientists, engineers, workers creating space technology.
Later, the Alley of Space Heroes was opened in front of the monument. At the base of the obelisk there is a monument to the great Russian scientist, the founder of astronautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.
The United States was able to repeat the success of the USSR only on February 1, 1958 (Greenwich Mean Time or January 31, US East Coast time) by launching the Explorer-1 satellite.
Following the Soviet Union and the United States, other countries independently entered the space routes (independent launches without the help of other states are indicated): in 1965 — France, in 1970 — Japan and China, in 1971 — Great Britain, in 1980 year — India, in 1988 — Israel, in 2009 — Iran, in 2012 — North Korea, in 2022 — South Korea.
Nowadays the space industry is the fastest growing. The global stable trend today is a sharp increase in demand for space services. Such technologies penetrate into all areas — the Internet, communications, services for business and citizens, remote sensing of the Earth, navigation. They are in great demand when implementing large-scale infrastructure innovative projects.
Over the past decades, thanks to the tireless creative work of talented scientists, designers, specialists, and military personnel, advanced, truly breakthrough projects have been brought to life, modern cosmodromes and research centers have been built, powerful, competitive space systems and strategic missile systems have been created.
The Federal Space Program is being implemented for the period until 2025, the goal of which is “to ensure state policy in the field of space activities based on the formation and maintenance of the necessary composition of the orbital constellation of spacecraft, providing services in the interests of the socio-economic sphere, science and international cooperation, including in order to protect the population and territories from natural and man-made emergencies, as well as the implementation of the manned program, the creation of launch vehicles and technical means, the creation of a scientific and technical basis for promising space complexes and systems.»
Among the state's priorities in the space industry are the improvement of its own infrastructure, the expansion and qualitative improvement of the orbital constellation of spacecraft, as well as the rhythmic continuation of manned programs, the creation of a promising line of rocket systems and, in general, an increase in the share of innovative space technology, products and services.
Noting the great importance of space exploration, on December 6, 1999, the UN General Assembly (resolution 54/68) proclaimed the period from October 4 to 10 as World Space Week. The purpose of the week is to celebrate the contribution that space science and technology makes to improving human well-being.
The week commemorates the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite on October 4, 1957 and the entry into force of the Treaty on the Principles of State Exploration on October 10, 1967 and the use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.
World Space Week is the world's largest annual event dedicated to space exploration.
Annually by the Association Board of Directors in close cooperation with the United Nations Office on space issues, the theme of World Space Week is chosen.
The central theme of Space Week 2023, “Space and Entrepreneurship,” recognizes the growing importance of the commercial industry in space, as well as the expanding opportunities for space entrepreneurship and new benefits from space developed entrepreneurs in this field.
The material was prepared on the basis of information and open sources