We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Orbit 1

from Sputnik 1 by Nick Jaffe

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Nick Jaffe releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Little Colored Boxes, The Toast Master, House by the Interstate, and Sputnik 1. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $16.90 USD or more (35% OFF)

     

about

At 19:28:34 UTC, on 4 October 1957, Sputnik 1 was launched into orbit atop an R-7 booster from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR. All over the world shortwave radio enthusiasts tuned in and heard the signal transmitted by the scientific satellite, a recording of which is audible throughout this song. The launch shocked the U.S. military and political establishments which had previously believed that the USSR was years from such a capability.

The parameters of Sputnik 1’s first orbit were as follows:
perigee height - 223 km
apogee height - 950 km (590 mi)
initial orbital period - 96.2 minutes

Sputnik 1 broadcast its radio signal for the first 22 days of its flight (as long as its transmitter batteries lasted). The signal encoded scientific data from the satellite's instruments. The particular recording of the signal used in this song has an extended pulse that occurs periodically. This is likely an anomaly specific to this recording; the original transmitted signal was all short pulses (.3 seconds in duration). I chose this version because I like the way it sounds.

The monologues at the beginning and in the middle of the track are fictional.

credits

from Sputnik 1, released October 15, 2010
Composed, performed, recorded and mixed by Nick Jaffe. Mastered by Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Nick Jaffe image

Nick Jaffe Chicago, Illinois

Just Nick (Nick Jaffe) is a musician, recording engineer, teacher and editor. Nick plays guitar and occasionally other things, with a wide variety of projects and artists. He has performed with Common, Dwele, Estelle and Bilal and has done music for film and advertisingl. His solo work is available here. ... more

contact / help

Contact Nick Jaffe

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Nick Jaffe, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Beans joins the show to discuss his album release, "ZWAARD".

listen now