Sputnik 3
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| Mission type | Earth Science |
|---|---|
| Operator | OKB-1 |
| Harvard designation | 1958 Delta 2 |
| SATCAT no. | 8 |
| Website | NASA NSSDC Master Catalog |
| Mission duration | 692 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Korolev Design Bureau |
| Launch mass | 1,327 kilograms (2,926 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | May 15, 1958, 07:12:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Sputnik 8A91 |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | April 6, 1960 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Semi-major axis | 7,418.7 kilometres (4,609.8 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.110932 |
| Perigee | 217 kilometres (135 mi) |
| Apogee | 1,864 kilometres (1,158 mi) |
| Inclination | 65.18° |
| Period | 105.9 minutes |
| Epoch | 15 May 1958 07:12:00 UTC |
Sputnik 3 (Russian: Спутник-3, Satellite 3) was a Soviet satellite launched on May 15, 1958 from Baikonur Cosmodrome by a modified R-7/SS-6 ICBM. It was a research satellite to explore the upper atmosphere and the near space and carried a large array of instruments for geophysical research.
Sputnik 3 was the only Soviet satellite launched in 1958. Like its American counterpart, Vanguard 1, Sputnik 3 had succeeded in making it into orbit during the International Geophysical Year.
In July 34 the Soviet Union's OKB-1 drafted a project to design and build the first Earth satellite, designated ISZ (Artificial Earth Satellite). ISZ was known to its designers as "Object D." Design of Object D had begun in January 1956 with intent to launch it during the International Geophysical Year. Object D was planned to be the first satellite launched by the Soviet Union but ended up being the third following delays due to problems developing the extensive scientific experiments and their telemetry system. The new R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile, also known by its GURVO designation 8K71, was ready to launch before Object D was finished. Worried at the prospect of America launching a satellite before he did, Sergei Korolev substituted the relatively simple "Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1" meaning "Simple Satellite 1", or PS-1, which was labeled Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Government, as the first satellite to be launched instead. The Sputnik 2 (PS-2) was also ready and launched earlier than Object D.
Sputnik 3 was launched by a modified R-7 Semyorka missile developed for satellite launches, the Sputnik 8A91.
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