SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00141R000200190001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 13, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

 P Approved For Release 1999/09/08: CIA-RDP82-0014 1 200190001-2
W J ~y 1
Pia 131632-18
Sd~ZGC 3 OC INT RNal~10N,A~f, GpIFMI i AL YCAR I ;4iLqrI01
13, 19556
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMET E
OffIve of Technical S rvi.css
Washington 25, D. C.
Published Weekly from February 14, 1958, tt January 2, 1959
Subscription Prig $10.00 for the Series
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PLIJ ASE NOTE
This report presents unevaluated information on Soviet Bloc
International Geophysical Year activities selected from foreign-
language publications as indicated in parentheses. It is pub
lished as an avid to United States Government research.
SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR INFOR TION
Table of Contents
I. Rockets and Artificial Earth Satellites
II. Upper Atmosphere
III. Oceanography
TV. Seismology
V. Arctic and Antarctic
VI. Conferences
Page
1
18
18
24
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1. ROCKE'T'S AND ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES
Soviet Press Coverage of Sputnik III Launching
A large number of articles has appeared in the Soviet press in the
wake of the launching of the third Soviet artifieiaa. earth satellite,
Sputnik III.
A review of those articles which appeared in the newspapers Pravda
and Izvestiya reveals that the majority adds little to the information
first released at the time Sputnik III was placed in orbit. A few deal
with some particular feature of the satellite or the fields of investiga-
tion concerned. Some are written by leading scientists of Soviet acade-
mies and scientific institutions. Wide coverage is given to foreign press
comments which reflect Soviet superiority in both scientific and economic
fields, while other articles strongly re-echo this theme.
Academician L. I. Sedov, in discussing Sputnik III, referred to it
as the "flying cosmic laboratory" which is an historic beacon in man's
progress and on whose experience of building and launching will be
based the solution of the problems in the next stage of cosmic flights.
He foresaw flights to Mars as a reality in the next 20 years. Sedov
stated that for the solution of the great problems of astronautics,
the cooperation of the scientists of'all couritries'is of great
value.
A. Mikhaylov, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences USSR,
in addition to praising the achievements of Soviet scientists, declared
that the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences USSR
at Pulkovo is engaged in observations of Sputnik III.
Prof Ye. K. Fedorov, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences
USSR, at a press conference held by the State Committee for Cultural Ex-
change With Foreign Countries remarked that solar batteries will serve
as the main source of energy in the future in interplanetary flights.
He stated that the life of Sputnik III will exceed that of Sputnik II..
On the problem of returning satellites to Earth, Prof Federov indicated
that this is being investigated in the USSR at present. He stated, "The
problem can be solved in principle, but up to now has not been solved."
A. Shternfel'd, winner of the International Incentive Award for
Astronautics, presented a comparison of Soviet and American US satellites
from the viewpoint of the energy whichliay,?possess after their place-
ment in orbit. (The energy required for launching is considerably greater.)
To place an artificial satellite in orbit, two conditions must be ful-
filled: raising the satellite to a given altitude and imparting to it
a velocity which will enable it to rotate around the Earth. Consequently,
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the mechanical energy which a satellite possesses in flight is equal to
the stun of the work expended Ln its raising and the energy of its motion.
For a more precise calculation, it is necessary to take into considera-
tion that, owing to its nature, the force of 'gravity decreases with al-
titude, and the energy with which it is necessary to raise the satellite
to its orbit is not proportional to the altitude, as this is calculated
In calculating the "terrestrial" problem. The other circumstance which
it is necessary to keep in mind is that the ellipticity of the orbits of
satellites, on the strength of which the altitude of their flights changes,
c%n also be calculated.
if the full mechanical energy of Sputnik I is conditionally taken as
100 units, then the energy of the Sputnik II will be 633 units, and the
third, 1,671 units. In comparison, the total mechanical energy of the
US satellites will be as follows: Explorer I and II (the first and third
US satellites) will be expressed as 18.2 units, while Vanguard (the
second) will be only 2.1 units.
To give a clearer representation of the absolute magnitude of the
energies compared, Shternfel'd explained that Sputnik I had an energy
equal to that of ten trains, reach weighing 1,150 tons, moving at a
speed of 80 kilometers per hour.
Among the many instruments carried by Sputnik III were solar batter-
ies, which, in addition to chemical batteries, supplied power for the
transmitting apparatus. An interview with M. S. Sominskiy, Candidate of
Physicomathematical Sciences, director of the Institute of Semiconductors
of the Academy of Sciences USSR, gave a short account of the efforts to
devise a way to convez't solar energy into electrical energy in the USSR
and other countries and a description of a simple solar battery.
A.. Kalashnikov, vice-president of the International Association of
Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, in an article entitled "The Satellite and the
Problems of Terrestrial Magnetism," gave a general description of the
Earth's magnetic field, the problems faced by scientists in the study
of the geomagnetic field and the aeronomical processes taking place in
the ionosphere, and the use of satellites in these investigations. Sput-
nik III, equipped with magnetometers, will make it possible to measure
the intensity of the geomagnetic field, to obtain information concern-
in; the structure of the upper parts of the geomagnetic field and to
ascertain the distribution of electrical currents in the ionsphere and
the upper atmosphere.
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In dicacuas:int; the study of cosmic: radi.n.tion with the use of putniks,,
L . Kurnoaova, and M. Fradkin, Candidate of Phy=rtccrnat,hematica7. Sciences,
'.)b:;ervez1 that this was firm; done using Sputnik II Two cosmic ray eouiri;..?-
r3 ihich were installed in it made It por;,t?ible to mea?,~,ure the full. flow
oI' co mj.c. rays at different altitud.ea and o.rer different part,:; of the
Tarth, The basic aim of these experiments was to determine how the flow
of these rays differed one from the other in relation to the geographic
latitude and also how their flow changed. with time, That. is to i.nv?r3ti-
gate the so-called variations of the intensity of con,r-ti.c radiation..
This study of the distribution of the intensity of cosmic rays.", all
over the Earth which was conducted by the Sputnik 11 was only the. begin-
ning of vide investigations of the structure of the E,,rt,h?, magnetic
field. Repeated careful measurements using satellites are required to
accumulate data, permitting strict and dependable scientific conclusio:cis
to be made.
One. of the problems being pursued, by Sputnik III is the continua-
tion of the investigations of the intensity of cosmic rays. Sputnik III
is equipped alssc with the means to register high-,energy photons and heavy
nuclei, The authors said that the reason for the latter measurements is
the xnve3f.igation of the theory proposed by scientists that the Sun., in
addition to heavy corpuscular flaws Fw.d cosmic rays., emits, from time to
time. hard elec tromEgnetic radiation. otherr_ d_----,e called high-energy protons
or gaxmra quanta., which is similar to visible light,, but with a mach
shorter wave length. The confirmation or disprove! of this hypothesis
is po- sibl?e fox, the. fix-at time because of .thy:. use of >. t.el.liter In
any case our representations of the Sun and its activity will be more
ccmplete? Tf It, is discovered that the Sun emits high-energy photons.,
then it Is po-3! ible for a? 'rery marked perspective to be opened tc astron-
omers in the study of cele,3tial bodies. This c:an be clone not only by
means of the rays of visible light and ! Late of the .lunar ionosph ?'.re . The :1 ndirect poasibility of cori
duet,; rY; th.t.a tax, of daily servics; on the state .,
in o :1rt.L ne?r . ok.lady .N:ndemi i Nauk SSSR, Vol 118, No 6, 1958, pp .1., 094.-
CPYRGHT 1,097)
Recorw!erldatiorw for Telesco Tube T)tc;i1n
The ,iu*ilit,y of star images in teie~t^opeF is affected not only by-
tht, opt.Lc