Sputnik celebration by Claudia Sonea

Fifty years ago, the Soviet Union succeeded something that will mark the history of mankind forever; they launched Sputnik- the first artificial satellite to be put into geocentric orbit. The satellite helped to identify the density of high atmospheric layers by its orbit change and provided data on radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere. Due to the Cold War, it was regarded as a strategy to show the communist superiority over the West. In fact the space age was opened by a scientist who gambled and took advantage of the desire to project a rocket capable to stoke US with a hydrogen bomb. Georgy Grechko, a rocket engineer and cosmonaut, said the warhead called R-7 was more powerful than anything that the Americans possessed at that moment and perfect to launch an object into orbit. Korolyov, the scientist that made opened mankind way to space, seized the opportunity created by the nuclear threat and the race against the Americans who announced a similar project as part of the International Geophysical Year. In 1954 he approached Dimitry Ustinov, then Ministry of the Defense, but only in 1956 he got the approval necessary to start the project. Because of the delay, Korolyov sketched a primitive satellite called Prosteishiy Sputnik, Grechko tried to convince him to put some more equipment, but he refused and that was he's best decision. Weighing just 184 pounds, the satellite had the shape of a sphere like Earth, made out of polished aluminum alloy with two radio transmitters and four antennas. It was launched on 4 October because of the fear that the Americans might launch before them. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev was there to report the success and the first beep transmitted from out of space would mark the beginning of a new era. Pravda, the Communist Party daily, was the first one publishing about the amazing achievement. Korolyov name was never mentioned until after his death and that hurt him a lot, according to his daughter Natalia he felt like a rat working underground. He launched on November 2 Sputnik 2 with a dog on board that survived for a week proving that it is possible to live in space. The main reason for the anonymity was the fact that the Soviet Union did not wanted to create jealousy among the others scientists. Even the Nobel's Committee attempt to nominate Korolyov was rejected by Khrushchev. Now everyone knows the true and the researchers involved in the project can speak thanks to the liberalization of the Soviet Union by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It was an important achievement for the Russians as a nation and for the mankind because of all the benefits the Sputnik brought. However, for the Soviet people there will always be the regret that they did not managed to surpass the Americans on their race to the moon. Who knew that the war could actually bring something good?

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/nuclear_warheads;_ylt=AmBUf58Td_f06Qjwkshlcwas0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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