DIY: Build Your Own Sputnik

If the relevance of this post doesn't blow your mind then its content surely will.

In 1957 the Sputnik 1 satellite was seen as a technological marvel, the result of many years work by some of the Soviet Union's most talented engineers and scientists. But by today's standards, was it really such a big deal? In 2007, how hard would it be to build a fully working Sputnik in the comfort of your own living room?

Armenia spent the greater part of the last century as a part of the mighty Soviet Union, so it's only fitting to pay tribute to Sputnik. I'm certain that many nameless Armenians worked tirelessly to make it a success, so this one's for them!

Here's how to build your own Sputnik

Brief History of Armenians and Astronomy

ArmeniaNow has a really interesting article that briefly looks at some of the many accomplishments of Armenians in the field of astronomy and space sciences. Here's an excerpt:

...long before – IV-III millennium BC -- some 30 kilometers east of Yerevan, one of the world’s oldest observatories looked to the sky perhaps for the same reasons the Russians and Americans would later fight to dominate it.

Though sadly deteriorating, patterns of night skies carved into rocks that became celestial maps for early astronomers can still be seen on a Metsamor hill. Fifty years? Hardly a flash compared to the centuries Armenians have been interested in the heavens.

I found this article very informative and interesting, to say the least. Check it out here.

Science is 0.29% of Armenian GDP

Before we go any further, I'd like to dedicate this sentence to that man's academic-looking outfit; reminds me of the Renaissance! But seriously, we've covered the topic of scientific reform in Armenia previously.

It should be noted that the wages of scientists is aimed to increase from AMD 28,000/$79 to AMD 44,000/$123. In 2007, Armenia plans to invest AMD 5.5 Billion/$15.5 million, compared with AMD 5.1 billion/$12.3 million.

These days, young people choose business and other careers over science and part of that certainly has to do with economic possibilities. With this changes and many other ones to come, I am hopeful that Armenia will once again rise to its rightful place among scientifically significant countries.

Source: Yerevan.ru (translated)

Scientific Reform Embraced by Armenia's National Academy of Sciences

Armenian science and technology at the academic level is still somewhat in Soviet times, but that is now in the process of changing.

...all the statements claiming the Academy has its entire resources expired and is a "soviet" structure sin against the truth, because the Academy is a successfully developing institution.
"We agree the Academy needs reforms, and the process has intensely developed: we finished the staff optimization; we carry out the modernization of substructures and actively cooperate with the leading scientific institutions, particularly with the Russian Academy of Sciences", Martirossian said.

I, for one, look forward to the day when Armenia is at the forefront of scientific research!

Source: Arka