Kazakhstan 500 Tenge Silver Coin 2007 First Space Satellite of the Earth
Series Space Coins — Sputnik 1 - First Space Satellite of the Earth
Obverse: the composition, which symbolizes the unity of a man and the universe, bonds of past and present; the face value of the coin «50 ТЕҢГЕ»; two legends "ҚАЗАҚСТАН YЛТТЫҚ БАНКI" and «REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN».
Reverse: the image of the first space satellite of the Earth; “1957-2007” means the year of the launch of the satellite to the orbit of the Earth and the year of coinage; the name of the coin is indicated in Kazakh "ТҰҢҒЫШ ЖАСАНДЫ ЖЕР СЕРІГІ" and in English "THE FIRST SPACE SATELLITE OF THE EARTH".
Bicolour (compound) coin circle-shaped is consisted of a ring and a disk. Inner disk is made of tantalum, external ring is made of silver.
Face value: 500 tenge.
Date of issue 4 May 2007.
Lateral surface is grooved.
Weight 41,4 gr. Fineness: 925 Ag, 14,6 gr. and Ta, 38,61 gr.
Quality: proof.
Mintage: 4000.
Series Space Coins
Kazakhstan 500 Tenge Silver Coin 2007 Sputnik 1 - First Space Satellite of the Earth
Sputnik 1 - First Space Satellite of the Earth
Sputnik 1 (Russian: Спутник-1 "Satellite-1", or ПС-1 ["PS-1", i.e., Russian: Простейший Спутник-1, Prosteyshiy Sputnik-1, "Elementary Satellite 1"]) was the first artificial Earth satellite. The Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957. It was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennae to broadcast radio pulses. It was visible all around the Earth and its radio pulses were detectable. This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, a part of the larger Cold War. The launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments.
Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information, even though the satellite itself wasn't equipped with sensors. The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave information about the ionosphere.
Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR (now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite travelled at about 29,000 kilometres per hour (18,000 mph; 8,100 m/s), taking 96.2 minutes to complete each orbit. It transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz, which were monitored by amateur radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 21 days until the transmitter batteries ran out on 26 October 1957. Sputnik burned up on 4 January 1958 whilst reentering Earth's atmosphere, after travelling about 70 million km (43 million mi) and spending three months in orbit.