Russian Holidays - Day of Satellite Monitoring and Navigation

The structure of the USSR missile test site in Baikonur was approved on June 2, 1955. 2 years later, the first artificial aircraft was launched into Earth orbit. Since that time, satellites have been used for astronomical observations, monitoring weather conditions and military reconnaissance. Over time, the capabilities of technical devices in orbit have increased. Today they are used to determine the location of an object on Earth, relay messages from radio, TV and cell phones. June 2 is Satellite Monitoring and Navigation Day. The initiator of the establishment of the holiday was the Roscosmos corporation. The date of the solemn day is dedicated to the appearance of the first cosmodrome on planet Earth. Not only satellites were launched from Baikonur, but also rockets with ships that carried pilots into mysterious and not fully explored space. The successful launch of aircraft is the result of excellent work done by scientists, design engineers and other specialists. Thanks to them, the Russian word “sputnik” became known to people in many countries of the world. On Monitoring and Navigation Day, it is customary to remember K.E. Tsiolkovsky, S.P. Koroleva, M.V. Keldysh, A.V. Bukhtiyarov, other researchers and designers of rocket and space systems. The holiday, which is celebrated on June 2, draws our attention to the importance of the development of wireless satellite technologies. The fruits of scientific developments should be accessible to both citizens of developed countries and residents of the poorest countries. Today, thanks to satellites, meteorological reconnaissance is carried out, topographic maps are compiled, Internet signals are transmitted, and radio and television programs are broadcast. Every person living even in sparsely populated and inaccessible corners of our planet should have the opportunity to enjoy these benefits of civilization. Today there are more than 20 thousand objects of artificial origin in Earth’s orbit. All of them are the result of the painstaking work of space industry professionals. However, the holiday of June 2 is celebrated not only by the direct developers and designers of satellite technology, operators and programmers, but also by a huge number of ordinary people and representatives of companies that use the fruits of the activities of these specialists. In honor of Satellite Monitoring and Navigation Day, the Russian media recall the history of the development of astronautics and discuss its future. Planetariums and observatories offer free performances on June 2. Event participants organize flash mobs, attend lectures with competitions and quizzes dedicated to the Day of Satellite Monitoring and Navigation.