Almost everyone in the U.S. was astonished and concerned when the Soviet Union w

Question

Almost everyone in the U.S. was astonished and concerned when the Soviet Union won the first round of the space race by launching the first satellite, "Sputnik," 50 years ago today on October 4, 1957. The most vital question was the mass of the payload which USSR could put in orbit. President Eisenhower asked his science advisers; "All we know for certain about Sputnik is its altitude and orbital speed. From that information can you calculate Sputnik's mass? How would you have answered the President?

Explanation / Answer

orbital speed of the satellite
v_o = ( G M / r)^ (1/2)
where r = distance between earth center and satellite
so it is not possible because orbital speed of stellite is independent on satellites mass .

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