Central intelligence Agency (CIA) the original way “celebrated” the 60th anniversary of the day the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite “Sputnik-1”. The Agency has posted a previously classified documents relating to the Soviet space and missile programs.
The CIA files published on the official website of the office. It includes the 59 papers and 440 pages.
In particular, it presented the CIA intelligence and analysis of the three Soviet satellites (“Satellite-1”, “Sputnik-2 and Sputnik-3”) and ballistic missile program of the USSR from 1955 to early 1960-ies.
The documents contain new, still not intended for General public information, including memorandums and reports, the CIA presented to President Dwight Eisenhower concerning the information about the early space and missile programs of the Soviet Union.
Thus, the CIA decided to demonstrate that closely followed the program of creation in the Soviet Union “Sputnik-1”. Thanks to its launch October 4, 1957, stunned the American public and the press, was not a surprise to us authorities.
“This achievement shocked the American public and the press, not the politicians and the intelligence community of the United States. The CIA reported to President Eisenhower about the achievements that preceded this significant launch, so he can win a strategic advantage and calculate the answer,” – said in a press release.
Documents published by the CIA, continuing a series of declassified documents that dealt with the arms race during the cold war. They can find interesting facts.
In particular, they suggest that the work of the USSR on the creation of Sputnik, the Americans knew as early as 1956. And that such a launch will be possible in the near future, in June 1957. In the United States is not excluded that the launch will fail. Another report says that the design of the first Soviet satellite was used battery manufactured in the UK.
The first artificial satellite PS-1 (the”Simplest Sputnik – 1″) was launched on 4 October 1957. It was a ball with a diameter of 58 cm, weighed 83.6 kilograms, was equipped with four antennas and battery operated transmitters. The chief designer of the spacecraft was Sergei Korolev. The satellite successfully flew 92 days, having made 1440 turns around the Earth (about 60 million miles). January 4, 1958 the unit was burned in the dense layers of the atmosphere.