What time was the launch of Sputnik 3?
Pravda says 13:41 Moscow Time.
NASA says 7:12 UTC (10:12 Moscow Time)
Actually, the American database of launches says "May 15.3", and ".3" == 7:12. So it has only one digit of precision.
Also, what time was the failed launch of Object D1 on April 27 1958?
Thanks!
1958.04.27 09:01 UTC
1958.05.15 07:00:35.5 UTC
I think Pravda has never announced a launch time for the 3rd sputnik.
Цитировать1958.04.27 09:01 UTC
1958.05.15 07:00:35.5 UTC
I think Pravda has never announced a launch time for the 3rd sputnik.
Cool. Many thanks. Where do you find that information?
A Russian book from the Baykonur veterans association.
Yet the same times are in the Jonathan McDowell table. His times are usually correct being checked against several Russian sources.
ЦитироватьA Russian book from the Baykonur veterans association.
Yet the same times are in the Jonathan McDowell table. His times are usually correct being checked against several Russian sources.
Ah yes, I should have checked Jonathan's lauch log. Thanks.
Then there is the question of orbital elements. Raushenbakh's book on S.P. Korolev gives numbers from Korolev's reports. Like Sputnik-1: 223 km perigee, 950 km apogee. But the REA table says 215 km and 939 km at day of launch.
Not a problem: either RAE heights are at a later date or above the 6378 km sphere. Soviet apogee and perigee values has been above the ellipsoid, hence the order of 20 km difference.