CBS Radio News with Robert Pierpoint – November 3, 1957 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection
The Russians announced Sunday the launching of a second space satellite this one carrying a dog. Radio signals indicate the animal is living, they said. A satellite six times as heavy as the one sent up Oct. 4 now is circling the earth every hour and 42 minutes at a maximum height of 937 miles, Moscow Radio announced. The dog was reported hermetically sealed in a container equipped with an air -conditioning system.
Moscow Radio said data received from the baby moon showed the “functioning of scientific instruments and control of the living activities of the animal are taking place normally.” Moscow said the satellite carries scientific equipment weighing 1,118.26 pounds. The first satellite weighed about 184 pounds. The announcement said the second satellite was “dedicated to the 40th an• niversary of the great October revolution,” which the Communist world will celebrate in Moscow beginning next Wednesday.” The new earth moon is completing its orbit in about seven minutes more than the original Sputnik, still circling the earth. Moscow said the second Sputnik, moving at the same speed as the first, is sending out two radio signals like the “beep” sounds similar to that transmitted by its predecessor. One, like the “beep” signal transmitted by the first satellite, is on a frequency of 20.005 megacycles. The other signal, at 40.002 megacycles, is a continuous note. (In Tokyo, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation announced that radio signals from Sputnik IL were being heard. (The corporation picked up the signals 23 minutes after Moscow’s announcement.
The “beep” came at intervals of 3/10 of a second). A three • stage rocket shoved the original satellite into its orbit. The first Moscow announcement of the second baby moon did not explain how i it was sent up. (In Washington, a spokesman said this nation’s minitracking stations which followed the first Red satellite are in operation, but so far have picked up no signals). At Boulder, Colo., Dr.
Alan Shapley, vice chairman of the U. S. International Geophysical Year committee, said the reported weight of Russia’s second satellite “certainly comes as a surprise.” Shapley said, “it may very well be that the announced weight (1,118.26 pounds) includes both final-stage rocket and the satellite itself.”.
And that’s most of what went on, this November 3, 1957 (a Sunday) as reported by Robert Pierpoint and CBS Radio News.
