Soviet Statement Gives Some Details Of Satellite

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28434, 14 November 1957, Page 23

Soviet Statement Gives Some Details Of Satellite

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. 1 The Russian earth satellite is 1 equipped with “specially sensitive photo cells,’’ says an official s statement issued today by the 1 Soviet Legation in Wellington, i The result of experiments in ] which dogs were catapulted with < and from rockets into space had i “furnished the information required for building the necessary : equipment and safeguards for ; space-flights. The results of these ’ experiments on animals will provide the basis for the precautions which will ensure man’s safety on ; his future flights into space,** . says the statement. The sputnik’s “eyes’* were being used to obtain a picture of the distribution of clouds over “wide areas of the earth’s surface.** “The successful launching of the satellite makes it possible for the first time in the history of meteorology to carry out prolonged observations of the terrestrial atmosphere from above.’’ Experiments and tests building up the launching of the dog in Sputnik II had been made since 1951, the report says. Dogs in Space Describing tests with animals catapulted out of speeding rockets in space, the statement, written by Soviet scientists, says “more than 12 animals were used in the experiments. Some of them, clad in space suits, wefe catapulted out of the cabin at heights of 75-85 kilometres (about 50 miles). Dropped on parachutes, these carefully-trained animals took 65 minutes to reach the earth. “No marked changes were observed in the main physiological functions of the dogs under the action of dynamic weightlessness

for a period of four minutes and ’ the lengthy accelerations. ( “Animals have recently with- < stood tests at heights of 200-210 < kilometres, the action of partial < and complete dynamic weight- ( lessness lasting six minutes. That < did not affect the condition and : conduct of the dogs. ■ “During the flights of animals j in satellites about the world, great difficulties were expected to be encountered,’’ says the report, which gives facts building up to the launching of dog-equipped satellites, but makes no mention : of the actual success with Sputnik 11. “The animals will have to be provided with all the necessities of life: oxygen for breathing, food, water, etc.’’ During the brief ascents of the rockets it was impossible to study the action of primary cosmic radiation on the living organism, says the statement. This probably would be afforded by the artificial satellites. The living organ- ; ism during the satellite’s flight in i orbit would be in a state of > “dynamic weightlessness” for a long time. During some of the catapulting flights, the dog’s compartment ; contained a special movie camera 5 with a light and two mirrors for i filming the dog’s behaviour, as ! well as other instruments, says j the report. I 1 Ceylon Tea Plantations.—The E Ceylon Government has shelved . proposals for the nationalisation » of 552 foreign owned (largely by > the British) tea plantations in Ceylon. The decision was made - by the Cabinet against the pro--1 posal by the Marxist food minis- ; ter (Mr Gunawardena). —London, s November 13.