User:Neopeius/Articles/Sputnik 3
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Sputnik 3 (Russian: Спутник-3, Satellite 3) was a Soviet satellite launched on 15 May 1958 from Baikonur Cosmodrome by a modified R-7/SS-6 ICBM. The scientific satellite carried a large array of instruments for geophysical research of the upper atmosphere and near space.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Soviet_Union-1958-Stamp-0.40._Sputnik-3.jpg/640px-Soviet_Union-1958-Stamp-0.40._Sputnik-3.jpg)
Quick Facts Mission type, Operator ...
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Mission type | Earth Science |
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Operator | OKB-1 |
Harvard designation | 1958 Delta 2 |
SATCAT no. | 00008 |
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 | 15 May 1958, 07:12:00 (1958-05-15UTC07:12Z) 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 altitude | 217 kilometres (135 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 1,864 kilometres (1,158 mi) |
Inclination | 65.18° |
Period | 105.9 minutes |
Epoch | 15 May 1958 07:12:00 UTC |
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Sputnik 3 was the only Soviet satellite launched in 1958. Like its American counterpart, Vanguard 1, Sputnik 3 made it into orbit during the International Geophysical Year.[1]