Sputnik 2
Soviet artificial satellite that took the dog Laika to the space
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Summary
Sputnik 2 is a biosatellite[1]. It draws 4,252 Wikipedia views per month (biosatellite category, ranking #1 of 6).[2]
Key Facts
- Instance of: artificial satellite of the Earth[3]
- Operator: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia[4]
- Follows: Sputnik 1[5]
- Followed by: Sputnik 3[6]
- Manufacturer: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia[7]
- Part of: Sputnik programme[8]
- Commons category: Sputnik-2[9]
- Space launch vehicle: Sputnik[10]
- Type of orbit: low Earth orbit[11]
- UTC date of spacecraft launch: November 3, 1957[12]
- Time of object orbit decay: April 14, 1958[13]
- Significant event: rocket launch[14], atmospheric entry[15]
- Orbital eccentricity: 0.0990965[16]
- Carries scientific instrument: spectrophotometer[17], Geiger counter[18], pressure sensor[19]
- Orbits completed: 2570[20]
- Start point: Gagarin's Start[21]
- Orbital inclination: 65.3 degree[22]
- Duration: 13,996,800 seconds[23]
- Mass: 508.3 kg[24]
- Orbital period: 103.73 minutes[25]
- Semi-major axis of an orbit: 7314.2 km[26]
- Apoapsis: 1659 km[27]
- Periapsis: 211 km[28]
Why It Matters
Sputnik 2 has Wikipedia articles in 28 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[29] It is known by 35 alternative names across languages and contexts.[30]