Sputnik

 Home The Bomb Sputnik Apollo Program

Sputnik 1
 * Mass || 83.6 kg ||
 * Radius || 0.29 m ||
 * Period of orbit || about 100 min = 6000 s ||
 * Max Altitude || 223 km ||
 * Min Altitude || 1450 km ||
 * Ave Altitude || 837 km = 8.37x 10^5 m ||
 * Ave Radius of Orbit || 7.22 x 10^6 m ||

Equating Gravitational "Force" with Rotational Motion (Proof of Kepler's Third Law): These equations use ms, and mp, representing the masses of the sun and a planet, respectively. Generally, they simply represent the masses of what is orbited and what is orbiting, also respectively. Therefore, we can substitute the mass of the earth for ms, and the mass of Sputnik for mp. G = 6.67 x 10^-7 m^3/(kgs^2) Ms = 6.0 x 10^24 kg r = 7.22 x 10^6 m Substituting these values: T^2 = 3.7 x 10^7 s^2 Therefore, according to conservation of energy, and the data given: In practice, the orbital period was approximately 6000 seconds. The calculated time has an error (%error =(6100-6000)/6000 ) of 1.7%. Given the range of data provided online regarding the period of this revolutionary orbit, 100s is a rather low error, less than two minutes.
 * T = 6100s**

The other crucial mathematics involves the energy required to get the satellite to that height with that speed. Therefore, the energy applied to the rocket at sea level must be equal to the sum of the gravitational potential energy at 837 km above earth and the kinetic energy of the satellite orbiting at that height in 100 minutes.

Because the Soviets had a rocket with that stored energy, the fear in American hearts raised. We did not know what the Soviets could do. This was both a public concern for personal well being and a governmental concern for political well being. A Soviet satellite above the US could have countless implications of espionage and weaponry potential.