# Korabl-Sputnik 1

> Soviet test flight

**Wikidata**: [Q373632](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q373632)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/korabl-sputnik-1

## Summary
Korabl-Sputnik 1 was a Soviet test flight and artificial satellite launched on May 15, 1960. Also known as Sputnik 4, it was part of the Sputnik programme and served as a prototype spacecraft to test systems for future crewed missions. The spacecraft orbited the Earth for over two years before re-entering the atmosphere.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** May 15, 1960
- **Programme:** Part of the Soviet Sputnik programme
- **Operator:** Soviet space program
- **Classification:** Artificial satellite of the Earth
- **Mass:** 1,477 kg (at takeoff)
- **COSPAR ID:** 1960-005A
- **Launch Vehicle:** Vostok-L / Luna 8K72
- **Atmospheric Entry:** September 5, 1962
- **Preceded By:** Sputnik 3
- **Succeeded By:** Korabl-Sputnik 2

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Korabl-Sputnik 1?
A: Korabl-Sputnik 1 was a Soviet test flight designed to test the systems of a prototype spacecraft. It was a crucial step in the Sputnik programme, paving the way for future crewed space missions.

### Q: Is Korabl-Sputnik 1 the same as Sputnik 4?
A: Yes, Korabl-Sputnik 1 is also commonly known as Sputnik 4. It is listed under several aliases, including Sputnik IV.

### Q: When was Korabl-Sputnik 1 launched?
A: Korabl-Sputnik 1 was launched on May 15, 1960, from the Gagarin's Start launch site.

## Why It Matters
Korabl-Sputnik 1 represents a critical milestone in the early days of the Space Race. As the first test flight of the Vostok spacecraft prototype, it was an essential precursor to the first human spaceflight. The mission's purpose was to validate the life support systems, guidance, and re-entry technology that would later be used by cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin.

Although the mission's intended duration was only four days, the spacecraft remained in orbit until 1962. Its eventual atmospheric re-entry became notable when a fragment of the spacecraft crashed in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA. This event brought a physical piece of the secretive Soviet space program to American soil, creating a unique Cold War artifact and a tangible link for the public to the ongoing competition in space. The data gathered from this test flight, even with its anomalies, was invaluable for the Soviet space program, directly contributing to the successes of the subsequent Vostok missions.

## Notable For
- **Vostok Prototype:** It was the first test flight of the Vostok spacecraft, the design that would later carry the first human into space.
- **Sputnik 4 Designation:** The spacecraft is widely known by its alternative name, Sputnik 4.
- **Wisconsin Crash Site:** A piece of the spacecraft survived re-entry and crashed in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on September 5, 1962, leaving a well-documented impact site.

## Body
### Mission and Purpose
Korabl-Sputnik 1 was an unmanned Soviet test flight operated by the Soviet space program as part of the larger Sputnik programme. Manufactured by S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, its primary goal was to test the viability of a prototype spacecraft for future crewed missions. The mission had a planned duration of four days.

### Launch and Orbit
The satellite was launched on May 15, 1960, from Gagarin's Start. The launch vehicles used were identified as the Vostok-L and the Luna 8K72. It was successfully placed into a low Earth orbit.

**Orbital Characteristics:**
- **Apoapsis:** 675 km
- **Periapsis:** 280 km
- **Inclination:** 65.02 degrees
- **Orbital Period:** 94.25 minutes
- **Eccentricity:** 0.02879

### Mission End and Re-entry
The spacecraft remained in orbit long after its planned mission, eventually decaying and entering the atmosphere on September 5, 1962. A notable fragment of the satellite impacted a street in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

### Identification and Naming
The spacecraft is officially identified by several designators:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1960-005A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1960-005A
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 00034

It is known by several aliases, including **Sputnik 4**, **Sputnik IV Crash Site**, and **Korabl-Spoutnik 1**.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013