What Russian satellite is a monument in Moscow? Monument to the first companion

Before you find out which Russian satellite the monument was erected in Moscow, it is worth investigating what this aircraft represents. Artificial is the Earth satellite created by human hands (unlike the Moon, which is a natural satellite), moving along a trajectory in the shape of an ellipse around our planet along geostationary orbits. In order for the device to go into this orbit, it is necessary that its speed be more than the first space, but less than the second space.

Space velocities for artificial satellites

This means that all artificial satellites should fly into space at a speed of more than 7.9 km / s, in order not to fall back to the surface of the Earth, 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 space velocity 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 to detach from it into outer space should be greater than the speed of light. Perhaps, therefore, black holes do not have any natural satellites, or artificial ones.

The monument to the first satellite of the Earth was installed a year after the launch of this device in Moscow, at the metro Rizhskaya. 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 area of the Ministry of Defense "Tyura Tam", which later became the Baikonur cosmodrome. Preparation for the first flight was not one decade. The most famous engineer Sergey Korolev headed the work of rocket designers.

The symbolic position of the satellite on the monument

The monument to the first companion was created by architect V. Kartsev and sculptor S. Kovner. He is a seven-meter bronze figure of a man in the suit of a worker who holds a ball on his arm stretched out with antennae running away from him. Of course, this position of the satellite is purely symbolic, since even the simplest apparatus, 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 provided a simple rubber gasket.

More than 1400 turns around the planet

On the top of the satellite were two antennas, each with two branches of 2.4 and 2.9 meters, and inside the scientists were able to place silver-zinc accumulation systems (weighed 50 kg), temperature sensors, pressure sensors, cable network, Radio transmitter, thermostats, air duct for control systems and a fan. The satellite flew around our planet in 96 minutes, made more than 1400 turns and descended from orbit in January 1958. That's what a Russian satellite put a monument in Moscow.

The monument has a double in another city

Although it is rather a monument of the Soviet era, as well as the double of this monument in the area of Power Engineering in Rostov-on-Don. In the history of the new Russia, this achievement is perpetuated by a monument in the city of Korolev, which was opened in 2007, on October 4, on the day of the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite.

Element of sculptural composition has been in space

What Russian satellite has a monument to Moscow recently installed? In 2012, before the complex of the Medical and Biological Agency (Federal), a monument was erected, the basis of which is a capsule of a satellite that was directly in space with unusual passengers on board. Space crews of the last generation, basically, consisted of monkeys, which sometimes "made up the company" other kinds of animals.

The device with animals weighed 6.3 tons

Artificial biological satellites (for launching living creatures) began to develop 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 being put into orbit, they move in a free mode without the influence of orientation systems, which makes it possible to obtain very pure experimental results under zero-gravity conditions. The first devices of this series weighed about 6.3 tons, with the weight of the equipment being only 0.7 tons and being launched into low orbit by Soyuz-U rocket carriers. More often, the "dispatch" was carried out from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The estimated maximum duration of the flight was about a month - such were the life expectancy of animal life support systems, after which the device descended on the parachute system to the test site in Kazakhstan (near Kustanai).

They helped to master space

The monument to the satellite of such a plan was established not accidentally. In total, eleven satellites were launched from 1973 to 1996, which were in orbit from five to almost 19 days, and the results of the studies made it possible to obtain extensive data on the behavior of living organisms in outer space. Pioneers in 1973 on this type of apparatus were 45 rats, with the third launch the program gained international character. And in the course of work on the fourth satellite, a very important fact was established: the state of the rats that were in space in a mini centrifuge (artificial gravity) was much better than the rest of the rats in weightlessness. In the latter, there was a change in the musculature, an increase in the fragility of the legs. Therefore, on a modern international space station, people spend several hours a day on simulators to reduce the harmful effect of weightlessness on the body. And all this was established by rodents.

How to choose the "astronauts"?

"Bion" - a satellite of the same series of vehicles, which has been redesigned for a special program, starting with the sixth launch. Here the astronauts became rhesus monkeys, for which it was necessary to refine the design of the ship, since the animals were significantly larger and smarter than previous species. Potential applicants were selected in the Sukhumi nursery. Only young males took cosmonauts, the selection took place every three years, after which it took two years to train. Monkeys were taught to press different buttons, pedals and levers, depending on the signals on the light display. As an encouragement, they offered concentrate of dog rose, which they drank through a special choke. Macaque was placed in a separate inner capsule with the possibility of their visual contact through special windows.

Of the selected twenty individuals who had been trained, only half, ten macaques came to the cosmodrome, of which two were selected directly on the site and assigned a name in alphabetical order. So, in space, the first primates were Abrek and Bion (1983). This launch was the shortest, only five hours, as one of the macaques released the paw and tore electrodes from the head, from which part was implanted into the brain. The satellite successfully landed and after rehabilitation the first monkey-cosmonauts went to live in the nursery.

Then came the Proud and Faithful (1985), then Erosh and Drema (1987). This launch was also not very successful, as Erosh was freed from control systems, in addition, the nutrient supply system for primates broke. The satellite had to be clamped ahead of time, and the landing was extremely difficult, since the object sat in the winter forests of Yakutia. Almost all astronauts, including rats, worms, newts, flies, survived, only the guppies were not lucky . Fidel Castro took a dream for permanent residence, guaranteeing him good living and honor in Cuba.

All returned safe and sound, but ...

What capsule stands on the modern monument "Bion"? Moscow received a part from the satellite that participated in the fourth launch. Inside the real sphere, surrounded on the monument by the likeness of wings, in 1989 the macaques of Jacon and Zabiyaka flew into space. Subsequent expeditions, in 1992 and 1996, were held with the participation of Kroshi and Iwashi, as well as Multik and Lapika, respectively. All of them returned safely, only Cartoon was destined to die already on Earth because of the intolerance of anesthesia, which he did after the flight during the operation. It is known that Krosh lived for many years after returning from space, and Lapik lives in the kennel in Adler. All of them with their flights, along with 37 other species of animals, allowed to substantiate the possibility of long-term human stay in space. That's what Russian satellite put a monument in Moscow, on Volokolamsk highway, house 30, building 1.