Before you know which Russian satellite a monument was erected in Moscow, it is worth understanding what this aircraft is. An artificial satellite is the Earth’s satellite, created by human hands (unlike the Moon, which is a natural satellite), moving along an elliptical trajectory around our planet in geostationary orbits. In order for the device to enter this orbit, it is necessary that its speed be more than the first space, but less than the second space.
Space speeds for artificial satellites
This means that all artificial satellites must fly into space at a speed of more than 7.9 km / s, so as not to fall back to the Earth's surface, but less than 11.2 km \ s, so as not to retire into outer space. Note that the first and second cosmic velocities are different for different celestial bodies. For example, the second cosmic speed for the Moon is only 2.4 km / s, since this object is smaller than our planet, and for a black hole, the speed necessary for separation from it into outer space should be greater than the speed of light. Perhaps that is why black holes have neither natural satellites nor artificial ones.
The monument to the first Earth satellite was installed a year after the launch of this device in Moscow, near the metro station Riga. The country that sent the first artificial spacecraft into orbit was the USSR. The launch itself took place in early October 1957 from the research site of the Tyur Tam Defense Ministry, which subsequently will become the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Preparations for the first flight went on for decades. The work of rocket designers was headed by the famous engineer Sergey Korolev.
The symbolic position of the satellite on the monument
The monument to the first satellite was created by architect V. Kartsev and sculptor S. Kovner. It is a seven-meter bronze figure of a man in a worker’s suit, who holds a ball with antennas extending from it on his arm extended upwards. Of course, this position of the satellite is purely symbolic, since even the simplest device, which was the first satellite, can be very heavy in weight. For example, PS-1, depicted in this sculptural group, weighed about 84 kilograms, consisted of two fairly small hemispheres (0.58 meters in diameter). The hemispheres were cast from an aluminum alloy and fastened together with three dozen bolts. Tightness was ensured by a simple rubber gasket.
Over 1, 400 turns around the planet
Two antennas were located on the upper part of the satellite, each of which had two branches of 2.4 and 2.9 meters, and inside the scientists were able to place silver-zinc storage systems (weighed 50 kg), temperature sensors, pressure sensors, cable network, radio transmitter, thermal relay, air duct for control systems and a fan. The satellite flew around our planet in 96 minutes, made more than 1, 400 orbits and left orbit in January 1958. Here is a monument to a Russian satellite in Moscow.
Monument has a double in another city
Although this is more likely a monument of the Soviet era, like the take of this monument on the Energetikov square in Rostov-on-Don. In the history of new Russia, this achievement is immortalized by a monument in the city of Korolev, which was opened in 2007, on October 4, on the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite.
An element of sculptural composition visited space
Which Russian satellite has a monument been erected in Moscow recently? In 2012, a monument was erected in front of the Biomedical Agency (Federal) complex, the basis of which is a satellite capsule that has traveled directly to space with unusual passengers on board. The space crews of the last generation mainly consisted of monkeys, which were sometimes "made up" of other animal species.
The apparatus with animals weighed 6.3 tons
Artificial biological satellites (for launching living creatures) began to be developed by OKB-1 (Kuibyshev branch) almost immediately after A. Gagarin's flight into space in the early 70s of the last century. Their peculiarity is that after putting into orbit, they move in free mode without the influence of orientation systems, which allows to obtain very clean experimental results in zero gravity. The first vehicles of this series weighed about 6.3 tons, with the weight of the equipment itself at only 0.7 tons and put into low orbit by Soyuz-U rocket launchers. Most often, the “dispatch” was carried out from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The estimated maximum flight duration was about a month - these were the terms of operation of animal life support systems, after which the device descended on a parachute system to the training ground in Kazakhstan (near Kustanai).
They helped explore space
Monument to the satellite of such a plan is not accidental. In total, from 1973 to 1996, eleven satellites were launched, which were in orbit from five to almost 19 days and the results of the studies allowed us to obtain extensive data on the behavior of living organisms in outer space. 45 rats became pioneers in 1973 on this type of apparatus; from the third launch, the program acquired an international character. And during the work on the fourth satellite, a very important fact was established - the health of rats in space in a mini-centrifuge (artificial gravity) turned out to be much better than the rest of the rats in zero gravity. The latter observed a change in muscles, an increase in the fragility of the legs. Therefore, at a modern international space station, people spend several hours a day on simulators to reduce the harmful effects of weightlessness on the body. And all this was established thanks to rodents.
How to choose the "astronauts"?
Bion is a satellite of the same series of devices, which has been redesigned for a special program, starting from the sixth launch. Here, rhesus macaques became astronauts, for whom it was necessary to modify the design of the ship, since the animals were significantly larger and more savvy than the previous species. Potential applicants were selected in the Sukhumi nursery. Only young males were taken to the astronauts, the selection took place every three years, after which two years went to training. Monkeys were taught to press different buttons, pedals and levers depending on the signals on the light panel. As an encouragement, they were offered rosehip concentrate, which they drank through a special fitting. Macaques were placed each in a separate inner capsule with the possibility of their visual contact through special windows.
Of the twenty selected individuals that had undergone training, only half, ten macaques got to the cosmodrome, of which two were selected directly on the site and assigned them a name in alphabetical order. So, in space, Abrek and Bion (1983) were the first of the primates. This launch was the shortest, only five hours, as one of the macaques released its paw and tore off the electrodes from its head, of which some were implanted into the brain. The satellite landed successfully and after rehabilitation, the first monkeys-cosmonauts went to live in the nursery.
Then Proud and Faithful (1985), then Erosh and Sandman (1987) entered the orbit. This launch was also not very successful, since Erosha freed himself from control systems, in addition, the nutrient supply system for primates was broken. The satellite had to be clamped ahead of schedule, and the landing was extremely difficult, since the object sat in the winter forests of Yakutia. Almost all cosmonauts, including rats, worms, newts, flies survived, only guppy fish were unlucky. Fidel Castro took a nap for permanent residence, guaranteeing him good living and honor in Cuba.
