Sputnik 3

PL Name: 3-y Sovetskiy ISZ

Launch data:

Designation	00008 / 1958Delta 2 / 58004B
Launch date	15 May 1958 - 07:00:35 UT
Launch site	Baikonur, LC1
Launch vehicle	Sputnik 8A91 (B1-1)
Mission	Scientific: ionosphere study
Satellite type	D-1 (#2)
Earth orbit on May 15, 1958:
Perigee / Apogee	217 x 1864 km
Eccentricity	0.111
Inclination	65.18 deg
Period	105.97 min

1e geophysical satellite, taking 11 different measurements.

Decay	06 Apr 1960 (.3)
Lifetime	692,00 days

15 May 1958: Sputnik 3 - backup of Korolyov Object-D satellite - launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Sputnik (R-7) rocket into 216 x 1863 kilometre orbit at 65.2 degrees inclination - an immediate failure of its onboard tape recorder means that data can only be gathered when it is within range of a ground-based radio receiving station
01 May 1959: Sputnik 3 ceases to return useful information although its radio transmitter continues to function - powered by solar cells.

Ref.: #1, #2, #7, #14, #15, #83, #206, #230 - update: 18.12.10