This is a classic article from New Scientist’s archive, republished as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations
THE successful launching by the Russians, at the first attempt, of an Earth satellite is undoubtedly a major technical triumph. In order to orbit the Earth in a circular orbit, a satellite must be projected with a speed of about 18,000 mph or 5 miles per second. Each orbital revolution is then completed in about 90 minutes. If the satellite is launched in a horizontal direction with a higher speed, its orbit will be elliptical and the higher the speed the more elliptical…
