VOA常速英语2007-Former Soviet Union Launched Space Age 50 Years

By Peter Fedynsky
Moscow
03 October 2007
 

October 4th marks 50 years since the former Soviet¹ Union hurled² humanity's first object into Earth orbit.  It was a small round device known as Sputnik -- Russian for “satellite” -- with four antennas³ and a transmitter.  The launch was a stunning⁴ scientific advance, but, surprisingly, those who achieved it did not set out to conquer outer space.  VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports that Sputnik was an afterthought of a troubled Soviet military project.

On October 4th, 1957, a rocket launched from Tyuratam, today's Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, boosted into space a highly polished aluminum⁵ ball 58 centimeters in diameter, weighing 83 kilograms.  Ground receivers recorded its famous beeping signal as it passed overhead in an elliptical orbit above the Earth.

Clearly proud of the launch, Soviet media proclaimed the triumph of Soviet science and technology.  Banner headlines around the world reflected international surprise over news of the first artificial satellite to circle the planet. 

The current director of the Russian space agency, Anatoly Perminov, was a ninth grader at the time.  He says the event influenced his decision to become a rocket scientist.  

"It was a big celebration. Yet, most -- 90 per cent -- did not appreciate what had just happened.  Nonetheless, there was euphoria that I feel in my soul to this day."

Ninety-six-year-old Boris Chertok is one of the last living participants of the Sputnik launch. He was a deputy to chief Soviet rocket designer Sergei Korolev.  In an exclusive interview with the VOA, Chertok said those involved in the launch were equally surprised by the world reaction.

"For us, I'll tell you quite honestly, it was pleasant and unexpected.  But naturally, it gave us great satisfaction.  There was, if you will, an element of creative good luck, when you understand that you accomplished⁶ something you were not counting on."

Chertok says the Soviet Union was actually counting on development of an intercontinental ballistic missile to counter a perceived American nuclear threat.  But, Chertok says test launches exploded or the nosecone disintegrated⁷ upon descent into dense⁸ layers of the atmosphere.  He says his boss, Sergei Korolev, was one of the few dreamers on the missile program who were interested in space exploration, not militarism.  Korolev argued that the Sputnik's nosecone would not encounter the density⁹ problem because it would not return to Earth.  Korolev's dream coincided with Soviet political needs.

"Our political leadership,” Chertok explained, “including [Premier] Nikita Khrushchev, believed the Soviet Union should not fall behind.  We had to show that our social system had substantive¹⁰ advantages over the American system, so he approved the launch of a simplified sputnik."

Chertok says the Sputnik launch was a team effort involving about 1,000 people working in secret half a century ago.  Their artificial satellite remained in space for 21 days.

So, it seems humanity's first orbiting device resulted from a military project developed by scientists, driven by politics, and steered¹¹ by a handful of dreamers.

1 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

4 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

5 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

6 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

7 disintegrated   

v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The plane disintegrated as it fell into the sea. 飞机坠入大海时解体了。
• The box was so old;it just disintegrated when I picked it up. 那箱子太破旧了，我刚一提就散了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

9 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

10 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

11 steered   

v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
• The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》