Science: Sputnik's Week

The made-in-Russia satellite continued to circle the earth last week, apparently as steady in its orbit as the made-by-nature moon. Most details about it still came from Russia. Repeating the previously announced dimensions, diameter: 58cm. (22.8 in.); weight: 83.6kg. (184.3 Ibs.), Pravda described it as a sphere of aluminum alloys with a "polished and specially treated surtace" and four metal rods as antennae 2.4 to 2.9 meters (7.9 to 9.5 ft.) long. When the carrier rocket was fired, the rods were folded back against the sphere, but swung outward on swivels when the...

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