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] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

we started watching horror movies almost every night since the end of sept. Watched like the entire insidious series which I'd never seen and that was ... one of the horror movies. I should definitely get the vvitch in rotation

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

ive been trickling in since like mid sept, i love spooky season but the issue is ive seen so much of the good shit already and its a genre filled with mids at best and a lotta trash. like i love horror when it hits but it disappoints me so often (sorta how i feel about anime lol). the joy middle of the road spooky flicks give me has also diminished some with age but eh its still a fun yearly tradition.

EDIT: The First Omen was pretty tight though, watched it last night and it was def the best first time watch i've had this spooky season so far.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

ill have to check it out. i like horror movies but ironically haven't seen very many of the relatively modern ones (2010s on) bc i dont really watch movies in general but my partner does.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago

Oh you’re in for a treat then!! Mid 2010s into the 2020s the genre had kind of a renaissance imo, many many bangers in your future.