License Exam Quiz #339

de Steve, AE8AT 

Sputnik was launched on October 4, 1957 by the Soviet Union becoming the first artificial satellite. This was an interesting time as Stalin died in 1953 and a power struggle followed, largely ending when Krushchev survived a coup in June 1957 just months ahead of the launch of Sputnik. The launch is often credited with triggering the space race, and creating broad interest in science and technology. Two technical contributions it achieved were allowing the density of the upper atmosphere to be measured, and also measuring radio propagation through the ionosphere. The satellite lived only about 3 weeks during which it transmitted simple beeps on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz which were easily received by radio amateurs throughout the world. The four antenna were in two pairs of about 8 feet and 9.5 feet. Sputnik1 reentered in January 1958 when atmospheric drag finally slowed the satellite to a speed where the elliptical low-earth orbit could no longer be maintained. Unreliable sources indicated the duration of the beep encoded information on the satellite’s internal temperature and pressure, but the detail of encoding was not identified. I wonder, did anyone log a QSO by meteor scatter from Sputnik’s reentry?

https://www.arrl.org/news/remembering-the-launch-of-sputnik-1-earth-s-first-artificial-satellite

T8B05 What is a satellite beacon?

A. The primary transmit antenna on the satellite

B. An indicator light that shows where to point your antenna

C. A reflective surface on the satellite

D. A transmission from a satellite that contains status information

G9B04 What is the radiation pattern of a dipole antenna in free space in a plane containing the conductor?

A. It is a figure-eight at right angles to the antenna

B. It is a figure-eight off both ends of the antenna

C. It is a circle (equal radiation in all directions)

D. It has a pair of lobes on one side of the antenna and a single lobe on the other side

E3A08 When a meteor strikes the Earth’s atmosphere, a linear ionized region is formed at what region of the ionosphere?

A. The E region

B. The F1 region

C. The F2 region

D. The D region

Answers:

T8B05 = D

G9B04 = A

E3A08 = A