The first spaceship with a man on board

"The first spacecraft starts from the Earth at a speed of 0.68 s ..." Thus begins the text of the problem in the textbook on physics for the pupils of the 11th grade, designed to help consolidate in their minds the basic provisions of relativistic mechanics. So: "The first spacecraft starts from the surface of the earth at a speed of 0.68 c. The second device starts moving from the first in the same direction with the speed V2 = 0.86 s. It is necessary to calculate the speed of the second vessel relative to the planet Earth. "

Those wishing to test their knowledge can be trained in this task. You can also take part in the test with the schoolchildren: "The first spacecraft starts from the surface of the earth at a speed of 0.7 seconds. (C is the speed of light designation). The second device starts moving from the first in the same direction. Its speed is 0,8 s. It is necessary to calculate the speed of the second vessel relative to the planet Earth. "

Those who consider themselves competent in this matter have the opportunity to make a choice - four options are offered: 1) 0; 2) 0.2 s; 3) 0.96 s; 4) 1.54 s.

An important didactic goal of the authors of this lesson is to familiarize students with the physical and philosophical sense of Einstein's postulates, the essence and properties of the relativistic concept of time and space, etc. The educational goal of the lesson is to develop a dialectical-materialistic worldview among young men and women.

But the readers of the article, familiar with the history of Russian space flights, will agree that the tasks, in which the expression "the first space ship" is mentioned, can play a more significant educational role. If desired, the teacher using these tasks could be disclosed both cognitive and patriotic aspects of the issue.

The first spacecraft in space, the successes of Russian space science in general - what about this?

On the importance of space research

Space studies have brought into science the most valuable data that have enabled us to grasp the essence of the new phenomena of nature and put them at the service of people. Using artificial satellites, scientists were able to determine the exact shape of the planet Earth, by studying orbit it became possible to trace the regions of magnetic anomalies in Siberia. With the use of rockets and satellites were able to open and explore radiation belts around the Earth. With their help it became possible to solve many other complex problems.

The first spacecraft that visited the Moon

The moon is a heavenly body, with which the most spectacular and impressive successes of cosmic science are associated.

The flight to the Moon was first made in history on January 2, 1959 by the automatic station Luna-1. The first launch of the artificial satellite "Luna-1" was a significant breakthrough in the field of space exploration. But the main goal of the project was not achieved. It consisted in carrying out a flight from Earth to the Moon. The launch of the satellite made it possible to obtain valuable scientific and practical information concerning flights to other space bodies. During the flight of Luna-1, the second space velocity was developed (for the first time!) . In addition, it became possible to obtain data on the radiation belt of the globe, other valuable information was obtained. The world press awarded the spacecraft "Luna-1" the name "Dream".

AMC "Luna-2" repeated the predecessor almost completely. The instruments and equipment used made it possible to monitor interplanetary space and to correct the information received by Luna-1. The launch (September 12, 1959) was also carried out using the RN 8K72.

On September 14, "Luna-2" reached the surface of the Earth's natural satellite. The first ever flight from our planet to the moon was made. Onboard the AMC contained three symbolic pennants, on which stood the inscription: "USSR, September 1959". In the middle was placed a metal ball, which, when struck against the surface of the celestial body, scattered into dozens of small pennants.

Tasks assigned to the automatic station:

• Reaching the surface of the moon;
• Development of the second cosmic speed;
• Overcoming the gravitation of the planet Earth;
• Delivery to the lunar surface of pennants "USSR".

All of them were fulfilled.

"East"

It was the very first spacecraft in the world from all, put into orbit of the Earth. Academician MK Tikhonravov under the leadership of the famous designer S. P. Korolev developed over the years, beginning in the spring of 1957. In April 1958, the approximate parameters of the future ship became known, as well as its general parameters. It was assumed that the first spacecraft will have a weight of about 5 tons and that when entering the atmosphere it will require additional heat protection of about 1.5. In addition, a pilot bailout was provided.

The creation of the experimental apparatus ended in April 1960. In the summer, his trials were started.

The first space ship "Vostok" (photo below) consisted of two elements: the instrument compartment and the descent vehicle connected to each other.

The vessel was equipped with manual and automatic control, orientation to the Sun and Earth. In addition, there was a landing, thermal adjustment and power supply. The board was designed for the flight of one pilot in a spacesuit. In the ship there were two portholes.

The first spacecraft went into space in 1961, April 12. Now this date is celebrated as the Day of Astronautics. On this day Yu.A. Gagarin brought into orbit the world's first spacecraft. They made a revolution around the Earth.

The main task performed by the first spacecraft with a man on board was to investigate the state of health and performance of the cosmonaut outside of our planet. The successful flight of Gagarin: our compatriot, the first man who saw the Earth from space - the development of science was brought to a new level.

Real Flight into Immortality

"The first space ship with a man on board was put into Earth's orbit on April 12, 1961. The first cosmonaut pilot of the Vostok spaceship was a Soviet citizen, pilot, Major Gagarin Yu. A. »

The words from the memorable TASS message have always remained in history, on one of the most significant and striking pages of it. After decades, flights into space will turn into a normal, everyday phenomenon, but the flight committed by a man from a small town in Russia - Gzhatsk - has forever remained in the minds of many generations as a great human feat.

Space race

Between the Soviet Union and the United States in those years there was an unspoken competition for the right to play a leading role in the conquest of outer space. The leader of the competition was the Soviet Union. The United States lacked powerful carrier rockets.

Soviet astronautics already tested their work in January 1960 during tests in the Pacific. All the major newspapers in the world published information that the USSR will soon be launched into space, which, of course, will leave the US behind. All the people of the world were waiting for the first flight of a man with great impatience.

In April 1961, the man first looked at the Earth from space. "East" rushed to meet the Sun, the whole planet followed this flight at the radio. The world was shocked and excited, everyone was watching the progress of the greatest experiment in human history.

Minutes that shocked the world

"Man in the cosmos!" This news was interrupted by the half-word work of radio and telegraph agencies. "Soviets are running a man! Yuri Gagarin in space! "

"East" to fly around the planet, it took only 108 minutes. And these minutes not only testified about the speed of the space flight. These were the first minutes of a new space era, which is why the world was so shocked by them.

The race between the two superpowers for the title of the winner in the struggle for space exploration ended with the victory of the USSR. In May, the US on a ballistic trajectory also launched a man into space. And yet the beginning of man's exit beyond the atmosphere of the Earth was laid by Soviet people. The first space ship "Vostok" with the cosmonaut on board was sent precisely by the Land of Soviets. This fact was the subject of extraordinary pride of Soviet people. And the flight lasted longer, passed much higher, went on a much more complex trajectory. In addition, the first spacecraft Gagarin (photo represents his appearance) can not be compared to the capsule in which the American pilot flew.

Morning of the Space Age

These 108 minutes have changed the life of Yuri Gagarin, our country and the whole world forever. After the first space ship with the man on board came out into space , this event people of the Earth began to consider the morning of the space age. There was no person on the planet who would enjoy such great love not only for his fellow citizens, but for the people of the whole world, regardless of nationality, political or religious beliefs. His feat was the embodiment of all the best, created by the human mind.

"Ambassador of the World"

Having defeated the Earth on the ship "Vostok", Yuri Gagarin went on a journey around the world. Everyone wanted to see and hear the world's first cosmonaut. He was equally welcome to the Prime Ministers and Presidents, the Grand Dukes and Kings. And also Gagarin was joyfully greeted by miners and dockers, military and scientists, students of the great universities of the world and the elders of abandoned settlements in Africa. The first cosmonaut was equally simple, friendly and friendly with everyone. It was a real "peace ambassador" recognized by the people.

"One big and beautiful human house"

The diplomatic mission of Gagarin was very important for the country. Nobody could be as successful as the first man who had been in space, to tie the knots of friendship between people and peoples, to connect thoughts and hearts. He had an unforgettable, charming smile, an amazing kindness, which united people of different countries, different convictions. Extraordinarily convincing were his passionate, heartfelt speeches calling for peace throughout the world.

"I saw how beautiful the Earth is," Gagarin said. - The boundaries of states are indistinguishable from outer space. Our planet looks from space as one big and beautiful human house. All honest people of the Earth are responsible for order and peace in their home. " He was boundlessly believed.

Unexpected rise of the country

At the dawn of that unforgettable day, he was familiar to a limited circle of people. At noon his name was recognized by the whole planet. To it millions were pulled, it have grown fond for kindness, a youth, beauty. For humanity, he became a harbinger of the future, a scout who returned from a dangerous search, opened new avenues to cognition.

In the eyes of many he personified his country, he was a representative of the people, who at one time made a great contribution to the victory over the Nazis, and now the first to rise into space. The name of Gagarin, who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, became a symbol of the country's unprecedented rise to new heights of social and economic progress.

The initial stage of space exploration

Even before the celebration of the famous flight, when the first spacecraft with a man on board was launched into space, Gagarin thought about the importance of space exploration for people, for which powerful ships and missiles are needed. Why are telescopes assembled and the orbits calculated? Why do satellites take off and radio antennas rise? He very well understood the urgent need and importance of these cases and sought to contribute to the initial stage of research by the human cosmos.

The first spaceship "Vostok": tasks

The main scientific tasks that faced the ship "East" were as follows. First, the study of the impact of flight conditions in orbit on the state of the human body and its performance. Secondly, the verification of the principles of building spacecraft.

History of creation

In 1957, S.P. In the framework of a scientific DB, a special department No. 9 was organized by Korolev. It provided for the creation of artificial satellites of our planet. The department was headed by the associate of Korolev MK. Tikhonrav. Also, the questions of creating a satellite manned by a man on board were investigated here. As a launch vehicle, the Royal R-7 was considered. According to calculations, the missile with the third degree of protection was able to withdraw a five-ton cargo to a low near-earth orbit.

Mathematicians of the Academy of Sciences took part in calculations at an early stage of development. A warning was made that a ten-fold overload could lead to a ballistic descent from orbit.

The department investigated the conditions for the implementation of this task. I had to give up consideration of the winged options. As the most acceptable way of returning a person, the possibilities of his bailout and further descent by parachute were studied. In this case there was no separate rescue of the descent vehicle.

In the course of medical research, it was proved that the most acceptable for the human body is the spherical shape of the descent device, which allows to withstand significant loads without serious consequences for the health of the cosmonaut. It was the spherical shape that was chosen for the production of the descent vehicle of the manned vessel.

The first ship was Vostok-1K. It was an automatic flight, which took place in May 1960. Later, a modification of the Vostok-3KA was created and tested, which was completely ready for manned flights.

In addition to one failed flight, which ended in the crash of the carrier rocket at the very start, the program was designed to launch six unmanned vehicles and six manned spacecraft.

The program implemented:

• The flight of a man into space - the first spaceship "Vostok 1" (a photo depicts a ship's image);
• Flight duration of a day: "Vostok-2";
• Carrying out group flights: "Vostok-3" and "Vostok-4";
• Participation in the space flight of the first female cosmonaut: Vostok-6.

"Vostok": characteristics and device of the ship

Characteristics:

• Weight - 4.73 t;
• Length - 4,4 m;
• Diameter - 2.43 m.

Device:

• A spherical landing gear (2.46 tons, 2.3 meters);
• Orbital and conical instrument compartments (2.27 t, 2.43 m) - they are mechanically interconnected by means of pyrotechnic locks and metal bands.

Equipment

Automatic and manual control, automatic orientation to the Sun and manual orientation to the Earth.

Life support (provided for 10 days to maintain the internal atmosphere, corresponding to the parameters of the Earth's atmosphere).

Command-logical control, power supply, temperature control, landing.

For human work

In order to ensure the work of man in space, the board was equipped with the following equipment:

• Autonomous and radiotelemetric devices necessary for monitoring the state of the astronaut;
• Devices for radiotelephone communication with ground stations;
• Command radio link;
• Program-time devices;
• A television system for monitoring the pilot from Earth;
• A radio system for controlling the orbit and direction finding of the ship;
• Braking propulsion system and others.

The device of the descent vehicle

In the descent vehicle there were two portholes. One of them was located on the entrance hatch, slightly above the pilot's head, the other, with a special orientation system, was placed in the floor at his feet. Dressed in a spacesuit, the cosmonaut was in the catapulted chair. It was envisaged that after carrying out the braking of the descent vehicle at an altitude of 7 km, the cosmonaut must be ejected and landing on a parachute. In addition, it was possible for the pilot to land in the vehicle itself. In the descent vehicle there was a parachute, but there was no provision for equipment for soft landing. This threatened the person in it with serious bruises on landing.

If the automatic systems failed, the cosmonaut could use manual control.

In the ships "Vostok" there were no devices for manned flights to the Moon. They were inadmissible flight of people without special training.

Who piloted the ships "Vostok"?

Yu. A. Gagarin: the first spaceship "Vostok-1". The photo below represents the image of the ship's layout. G. S. Titov: "Vostok-2", A. Nikolaev: "East-3", P.R. Popovich: "East-4", VF Bykovsky: "Vostok-5", V. V. Tereshkova: "Vostok-6".

Conclusion

108 minutes, during which the "East" made a turn around the Earth, the life of the planet was changed forever. Not only historians cherish the memory of these minutes. Living generations and our distant descendants will respectfully re-read the documents that tell the story of the birth of a new era. Era, which opened the way for people in the vast expanses of the universe.

No matter how far the mankind has progressed in its development, it will always remember this amazing day, when man first found himself alone with the cosmos. People will always remember the immortal name of the glorious pioneer of the cosmos, which became an ordinary Russian man - Yuri Gagarin. All of today's and tomorrow's achievements in space science can be considered steps in its wake, the result of the victory won by him - the first and most important.