ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SOVIET SATELLITE AND COMMENTS ON THE SATELLITE AND THE SOVI
Document Type:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
0000124274
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
2
Document Creation Date:
September 22, 2017
Document Release Date:
October 4, 2017
Sequence Number:
Case Number:
F-1990-01132
Publication Date:
November 28, 1957
File:
Attachment | Size |
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DOC_0000124274.pdf | 213.15 KB |
Body:
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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Announcement of the Soviet Satellite DATE DISTR. 28 $ovesber 1957
Soviet Space Program P40. PAGES 2
1 On the evening of k October 1957, there was a reception for the conference
delegates at the Soviet Embassy in Washington' Dr. Lloyd Berkner made an
a-L-jouncenept saying, "i wish to congratulate our Soviet colleagues on their
success in launching the world's first'earth satellite vehicle'.'.. This.sls-f._ ->
nau:ceme.t appeared to be the first news the Soviets had regarding the launching,
As a mome-.t later a cecber of the Soviet embassy staff .ntered the roam with
what nppesred to be yellow sheets from a teletype machine.
2. Source cczmertcd that as the Soviets have been able to launch sa 18k pound
ace research. Be
in s
bilit
p
y
satellite, they have an advanced, adaptable capa
feels that the satellite was launched from an ICBM and that the. Soviets have a
dafinitc cai,abiltt7 1 this .field. , Aa the ietsare o~Siaistia ab ut it.As
life span st=time sate ll#_gs.9s~-col
to xeep it going, tt_ a g_
es=1
3. Although the Soviets state that this satellite has only teipreMmn ~;;
ke?'~-
devices, It appears that the sate111te could carry esusera equ~ip~eat, ookedtft It ke
,ot.ed that the four cameras described for the s~eteorological rocket looked
ot their first
the
ft
y g
er
military equipment. The Soviets have indicated that a
_
4 satellite orbiting, they Nava a regular program for the Improvement of their.
sntell1tes. Ca.-rera-equipped satellites c expected, even if this one is
not so equipped.
4. The Soviets at the conference stated formerly that they believe this satellite for
carried two radio tranaitters, a heavy load of batteries, ands '~ In the
measuring temperature. They indicated that this va3 tht only
satellite since the first one was to be as simple as possible.
_
5. on the question of whether data from the satellite as well as data obtained
from ground observations will be mmde available to all IGT participants by_ the Soviets, source said, "Yes, if the Soviets keep agreements already made. Be noted
that the Soviet anrouncewent contained all agreed-upon scientific data on the
orbit czcept for the estimate on the location of apogee and perigct?_-Also,,'r ~- _
?logo. vow said that he had sent a cable to Moscow for additional inforeation'-
which would be made public when available. This remains to be seen, but so far
one cazaot criticize the Soviet a ~=?+~is?_~w
Approved for Release
tSEP 1996
Date
6. The tuleucterigg frequencies of the satellite appear to be as aanouneed by the
Soy 1#4*, subject to Doppler shirts, measurements of which in both the northern
& d southern hemispheres will give the key to the apogee. on the question of
s.--scarf storages sonce stated that temperature measurements way be conveyed to
earth simply by the length of keys but be did not rule out other iratrssents
end the possibility of special transmitters operating only upon interrogation
when iu the vicinity of the USSR. If an additional telemetering transmitter of
the storage type is involved, memory circuits say be used.
7. The orbit selected for the satellite is a logical one for this time,of year
as it affords the best visibility for observers in the ,*SR. (Note that they
used a 65 degree orbit, although Soviet delegates to this conference said it would
not be less than 70 degrees.) A 65 degree orbit gives tht,Soviets v laudching
gain and they were obviously shooting to ttL the satellite as high as possible
for a number of reasons
a. So that it would stay up louses) ;l
b. To permit less horizontal error on launching) and
c. To permit observation for the greatest number of revolutions.
('Tote that a 65 degree orbits presuming 2auaeMing in the neighborhood of 50
degrees, means it was launched in very fj an last.-Vest direction, giving
they as such e.d`vaatage of the earth's ro ion as they could get.)
Blagonravov and Poloskov were asked bar this was managed. They said they did
not knov as they were not close enough to the technical details.
It is significant that the Soviets; stated at this`conferenee teat they will
launch satellites at regular intervals throughout the I02, preav asbly every
mooch or two, and that their techniques and experiments will steadily lamrove.
.s~asls~Lr"lear~tLeiL ;t-~sir~~cL~iit ~ _? - - --._. - - :'tza~t3c'.=-7tLt-ot " -'.?.Y a 3t