this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2024
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Sputnik 1 (/ˈspʌtnɪk, ˈspʊtnɪk/, ‹See Tfd›Russian: Спутник-1, Satellite 1) was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted. Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958. The world's first observation was made at the school observatory in Rodewisch (Saxony).

It was a polished metal sphere 58 cm (23 in) in diameter with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its radio signal was easily detectable by amateur radio operators, and the 65° orbital inclination made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth.

The satellite's success was unanticipated by the United States. This precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, part of the Cold War. The launch was the beginning of a new era of political, military, technological, and scientific developments. The word sputnik is Russian for satellite when interpreted in an astronomical context; its other meanings are spouse or traveling companion.

Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information. The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave data about the ionosphere.

Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR (now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite traveled at a peak speed of about 8 km/s (18,000 mph), taking 96.20 minutes to complete each orbit. It transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz, which were monitored by radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 22 days until the transmitter batteries depleted on 26 October 1957. On 4 January 1958, after three months in orbit, Sputnik 1 burned up while reentering Earth's atmosphere, having completed 1,440 orbits of the Earth, and travelling a distance of approximately 70,000,000 km (43,000,000 mi).

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

During my tenure at the CIA (observing online leftist forums to report people who post too good) I've seen similar numbers turn in favor of just letting it go. It was a rock solid case where they were in clear violation of a written contract via email for a project that went way over scope (using AI to track down people who edited the text in memes to make them too funny for the status quo and therefore revolutionary). But the idea of having to explain the situation to a jury of laypeople, retaliation for trying, and the amount of effort that would go into trying seemed to make it unattractive enough to not bother.

It seems valid to me meaning that there's nothing about the story that conflicts with the idea that you were wronged in a way that was financially damaging. I'm weary of the idea you'd get a payout regarding a verbal agreement where you're not an active participant in the case. A jury could misunderstand, your lawyer could tell you how they need another retainer, and you could rouse your old roommate's ire. If you lose you're out money you can't really afford to lose too. Personally, I'd buy a stress ball and put 2.495k into a total market index fund and save myself the volatility of hoping it works out.

I don't think you're wrong I just think it's a bit risky for my blood.