The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity

ferret
A satellite whose primary function is to gather electronic
intelligence, such as microwave, radar, radio, or voice
emissions.
field
A region within which a particular type of force can be
observed or experienced; varieties include a gravitational
field, an electric field, a magnetic field (or when the latter
two are linked, an electromagnetic field), and a nuclear
field. The laws of physics suggest that fields represent more
than a possibility of force being observed, but that they can
also transmit energy and momentum—a light wave, for
example, is a phenomenon completely defined by fields.
fin
A surface at the rear of a rocket that serves to stabilize it
in flight. Fins are usually planar surfaces placed at right
angles to the main body.
Finger, Harold B. (1924–)
An aeronautical and nuclear engineer involved with the
early American space program. Finger joined NACA
(National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) in 1944
as an aeronautical research scientist at the Lewis facility
Firsts in Spaceflight
firsts in spaceflight 137
in Cleveland. Having gained experience working with
compressors and in nuclear engineering projects, he
became head of the nuclear radiation shielding group
and the nuclear propulsion design analysis group in
1957. The following year, he was appointed chief of the
nuclear engine program at NASA headquarters, and by
1962 had become director of nuclear systems. From 1967
to 1969, Finger was NASA’s associate administrator for
organization and management before taking up a government
post in housing and urban development.
firing chamber
See combustion chamber.
FIRST (Far Infrared and Submillimetre Space
Telescope)
See Herschel.
first motion
The first indication of motion of a vehicle from its
launcher. Synonymous with takeoff for vertically
launched rockets and missiles.
firsts in spaceflight
See table.
First Spacecraft/Individual Date
Liquid-propelled rocket launch Robert Goddard Mar. 16, 1926
Artificial satellite Sputnik 1 Oct. 4, 1957
Animal in orbit Dog Laika, Sputnik 2 Nov. 3, 1957
American satellite Explorer 1 Feb. 1, 1958
Recorded message from space SCORE Dec. 18, 1958
Probe to reach escape velocity/lunar flyby Luna 1 Jan. 2, 1959
Polar orbiting satellite Discoverer 1 Feb. 28, 1959
Animals recovered alive from space Monkeys Able & Baker, Jupiter May 28, 1959
Lunar impact Luna 2 Sep. 14, 1959
Weather satellite Explorer 7 Oct. 13, 1959
Active comsat Courier 1B Oct. 4, 1960
Human in space Yuri Gagarin, Vostok 1 Apr. 12, 1961
Day spent in space Gherman Titov, Vostok 2 Aug. 6, 1961
Satellite telephone call & TV broadcast Echo 1 Feb. 24, 1962
Real-time active comsat Telstar 1 Jul. 10, 1962
Successful planetary flyby (Venus) Mariner 2 Aug. 27, 1962
Woman in space Valentina Tereshkova, Vostok 6 Jun. 16, 1963
Geosynchronous satellite Syncom 2 Jul. 26, 1963
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