On Thursday 10 July 2008 06:49, George Olshevsky wrote: > 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)? > The pictures showing the aerials protruding radially away from the satellite are not correct. But during launch the aerials were indeed closer to the body to fit with the nose cone. All four aerials would spring open into their unfurled position at separation from the launcher at an angle of 35 degrees with regard to Sputnik 1's main axis. So all the other pictures and models on display show it correctly. Gerhard HOLTKAMP Darmstadt, Germany ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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