Editing Sputnik 1 (section)

=== Satellite construction project ===
On 17 December 1954, chief Soviet rocket scientist [[Sergei Korolev]] proposed a developmental plan for an artificial satellite to the Minister of the Defense Industry, [[Dimitri Ustinov]]. Korolev forwarded a report by [[Mikhail Klavdievich Tikhonravov|Mikhail Tikhonravov]], with an overview of similar projects abroad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rgantd.ru/vzal/korolev/pics/015_025.jpg |title=On the possibility of Earth's artificial satellite development |language=ru |first=Sergei |last=Korolev |date=26 May 1954 |access-date=26 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408193139/http://rgantd.ru/vzal/korolev/pics/015_025.jpg |archive-date=8 April 2008}}</ref> Tikhonravov had emphasized that the launch of an orbital satellite was an inevitable stage in the development of rocket technology.<ref name="ZE">[http://www.buran.ru/htm/gud%2017.htm Создание первых искусственных спутников Земли. Начало изучения Луны. Спутники "Зенит" и "Электрон"], book: Гудилин В.Е., Слабкий Л.И.([[:ru:Слабкий Леонид Ильич|Слабкий Л.И.]])(Gudilin V., Slabkiy L.)"Ракетно-космические системы (История. Развитие. Перспективы)", М., 1996 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314133238/http://www.buran.ru/htm/gud%2017.htm |date=14 March 2007}} (in Russian)</ref>

On 29 July 1955, U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] announced through his press secretary that, during the [[International Geophysical Year]] (IGY), the United States would launch an artificial satellite.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/monograph10/korspace.html |title=Korolev and Freedom of Space: 14 February 1990 – 4 October 1957 |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=18 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007175859/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/monograph10/korspace.html |archive-date=7 October 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> Four days later, [[Leonid Sedov]], a leading Soviet physicist, announced that they too would launch an artificial satellite. On 8 August, the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] approved the proposal to create an artificial satellite.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rgantd.ru/vzal/korolev/pics/015_001.jpg |title=On the creation of the Earth's artificial satellite |author=The Presidium of the Central Committee of the CPSU |language=ru |date=8 August 1955 |access-date=26 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408193149/http://rgantd.ru/vzal/korolev/pics/015_001.jpg |archive-date=8 April 2008}}</ref> On 30 August, Vasily Ryabikov—the head of the State Commission on the [[R-7 Semyorka|R-7 rocket]] test launches—held a meeting where Korolev presented calculation data for a spaceflight trajectory to the Moon. They decided to develop a three-stage version of the R-7 rocket for satellite launches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/vetrov/korolev-delo/06-01.html |title=G. S. Vetrov, Korolev And His Job. Appendix 2 |language=ru |access-date=26 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307111932/http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/vetrov/korolev-delo/06-01.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=7 March 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Sputnik 1 Arming Key.jpg|right|thumb|Last remaining piece of Sputnik 1: metal arming key which prevented contact between batteries and transmitter prior to launch; on display at the [[Smithsonian Institution|Smithsonian]] [[National Air and Space Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/2007-13215hjpg|title=Sputnik Arming Key in Space Race|date=28 January 2018 |publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|access-date=13 July 2019}}</ref>]]
On 30 January 1956, the [[Council of Ministers (Soviet Union)|Council of Ministers]] approved practical work on an artificial Earth-orbiting satellite. This satellite, named ''Object D'', was planned to be completed in 1957–58; it would have a mass of {{convert|1000|to|1400|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and would carry {{convert|200|to|300|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of scientific instruments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nauka.relis.ru/05/9710/05710002.htm |title=The Beginning |language=ru |access-date=26 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205937/http://nauka.relis.ru/05/9710/05710002.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> The first test launch of "Object D" was scheduled for 1957.<ref name="ZE" /> Work on the satellite was to be divided among institutions as follows:<ref name="NL">{{cite web |url=http://www.lidorenko.ru/ns1.htm |title=On the Launch of the First Earth's artificial satellite in the USSR |first=Nikolai |last=Lidorenko |language=ru |access-date=26 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402041653/http://www.lidorenko.ru/ns1.htm |archive-date=2 April 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

* The [[USSR Academy of Sciences]] was responsible for the general scientific leadership and the supply of research instruments.
* The Ministry of the Defense Industry and its primary design bureau, [[OKB-1]], were assigned the task of building the satellite.
* The Ministry of the Radio technical Industry would develop the control system, radio/technical instruments, and the [[telemetry]] system.
* The Ministry of the Ship Building Industry would develop [[gyroscope]] devices.
* The Ministry of the Machine Building would develop ground launching, refueling, and transportation means.
* The Ministry of Defense was responsible for conducting launches.

Preliminary design work was completed in July 1956 and the scientific tasks to be carried out by the satellite were defined. These included measuring the density of the atmosphere and its [[ion]] composition, the [[solar wind]], [[magnetic field]]s, and [[cosmic ray]]s. These data would be valuable in the creation of future artificial satellites; a system of ground stations was to be developed to collect data transmitted by the satellite, observe the satellite's orbit, and transmit commands to the satellite. Because of the limited time frame, observations were planned for only 7 to 10 days and orbit calculations were not expected to be extremely accurate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/nk/1997/16/16-1997.html |title=40 Years of Space Era |language=ru |access-date=26 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229190257/http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/nk/1997/16/16-1997.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=29 February 2008}}</ref>

By the end of 1956, it became clear that the complexity of the ambitious design meant that 'Object D' could not be launched in time because of difficulties creating scientific instruments and the low [[specific impulse]] produced by the completed R-7 engines (304&nbsp;seconds instead of the planned 309 to 310&nbsp;seconds). Consequently, the government rescheduled the launch for April 1958.<ref name="ZE" /> Object D would later fly as [[Sputnik 3]].<ref>Lanius, ''et al'', p. 38.</ref>

Fearing the U.S. would launch a satellite before the USSR, OKB-1 suggested the creation and launch of a satellite in April–May 1957, before the IGY began in July 1957. The new satellite would be simple, light ({{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on|disp=or}}), and easy to construct, forgoing the complex, heavy scientific equipment in favour of a simple radio transmitter. On 15 February 1957 the Council of Ministers of the USSR approved this simple satellite, designated 'Object PS', PS meaning ''"prosteishiy sputnik",'' or "elementary satellite".<ref name="1957sat">{{cite web|url=http://claudelafleur.qc.ca/Spacecrafts-1957.html|title=Spacecrafts &#91;sic&#93; launched in 1957|last=Lafleur|first=Claude|date=2004|website=ClaudeLafleur.qc.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827232818/http://claudelafleur.qc.ca/Spacecrafts-1957.html|archive-date=27 August 2011|url-status=live|access-date=26 March 2008}}</ref> This version allowed the satellite to be tracked visually by Earth-based observers, and it could transmit tracking signals to ground-based receiving stations.<ref name="1957sat" /> The launch of two satellites, PS-1 and PS-2, with two R-7 rockets (8K71), was approved, provided that the R-7 completed at least two successful test flights.<ref name="1957sat" />