Re: Did tonight's PBS NOVA Sputnik show have a glaring tech error?

Thanks for the quick verification, I have emailed NOVA to tell them
they suck at science:-)

Furthermore, looking at the layout of the Sputnik1, I am wondering if
those trailing radio antennae behind the globular main body actually
kept it oriented in an "Easterly" direction once in orbit or not. Low
Earth orbit is essentially a vacuum, but not a 100 percent pure one.
At a low orbital altitude, did the antennae create enough drag to
stabilize the satellite to face "forward", or did they alter the
center of gravity in such a way to orient the sat perpendicular to the
Earth's surface?




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