Idaho Skies Transcript for November 6th and 7th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for November 6th and 7th. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
Sixty years ago on the 3rd, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 into orbit.

RACHEL
This was a painful shot to American pride, as the spacecraft weighed 1,100 pounds.

PAUL
Which was over 340 times heavier than America’s planned first satellite, Vanguard 1.

RACHEL
The satellite’s weight was evidence that the Soviets had the capability to launch nuclear warheads to the United States.

PAUL
Sputnik 2 sent several additional messages to the world.

RACHEL
First, that the Soviet Union was capable of sending more satellites into orbit than the US.

PAUL
Second, they could launch heavier satellites than Sputnik 1.

RACHEL
And finally, they could send a passenger into space.

PAUL
The passenger in this case was a dog named Laika.

RACHEL
So why did the Soviets launch a dog into space?

PAUL
Well, Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev was delighted by the world’s response to his country’s launch of the first satellite.

RACHEL
So he insisted on a second satellite launch to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Soviet Revolution.

PAUL
And the second launch was to be more impressive than the first.

RACHEL
This gave his chief rocket designer, Korolev only a little over a month to prepare.

PAUL
To speed up the design, Korolev used a backup Sputnik 1 and a high altitude chamber used to launch dogs on suborbital sounding rockets.

RACHEL
Sputnik 2 safely carried Laika into Earth orbit, but things went badly afterwards.

PAUL
The satellite’s system of thermal protection didn’t operate properly and Laika died from overheating.

RACHEL
Poor Laika only lived for four orbits, or for six hours in Earth orbit.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 6th and 7th of November.

RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.