Most photos of the Sputnik 1 payload depict a metallic sphere with four aerials in a "swept back" configuration, but a few artistic renderings of the satellite "in orbit" show the aerials protruding radially from the sphere's equator. I understand the "swept back" configuration conforms to the satellite's stowage during launch, confined within its conical fairing (which is said to have gone into orbit along with the payload and booster). But once the satellite was pushed away from the booster, did the aerials "snap open" into the radial configuration, or did they simply stay "swept back" all the time (making those pictures of the satellite in orbit incorrect)? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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