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 SPUTNIK-40 (aka
Sputnik-II, PS-2, RS-17, Sputnik Jr.), 1997-058C, 24958. - A commemorative functioning replica of the original Sputnik was deployed from the MIR
spacestation during an EVA by Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov and Pavel Vinogradov on
the 3rd November 1997. It is therefore in a 383x391km orbit inclined at 51.6 degrees. It
originally arrived via a Progress automated cargo rocket on October 9th. The satellite is
1/3 scale and weights only 3kg and is built by French students from the l'Aeroclub of
France (radio transmitter) and staff from the Russian Aeronautical Federation (structure)
, funded by various sponsors in the space industry. The satellite carries a low-power (100
to 200 mW) 2-meter VHF-FM beacon transmitter operating on 145.820 MHz that emits a
pulsating tone with duty cycle of 5, with 1.3kHz frequency as a function of the internal
temperature of the spacecraft, similar to the original Sputnik. The antenna polarisation
is circular, however no satellite attitude control exists to control the polarity sense.
Its lifetime in orbit is expected to be between one and two months as it employs
non-recharchable batteries. Orbital lifetime is expected to be about 18 months. The SSHP
author still observed the satellite near the 20th November. The spacecraft was reported to
be spinning rapidly (8-13rpm), and finally stopped transmitting on the 29th December. It
decayed on the 21st May 1998. More...
[Sputnik-II][another Sputnik II page]
Pictures:[#1,#2,#3]
Movie: [Florida Today movie of launch]
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