Explorer 1 Satellite Facts

The mission followed the first two satellites the previous year.

Explorer 1 satellite facts.

A quick response to the soviet union s launch of sputnik 1 explorer 1 s success marked the beginning of the u s. Explorer i officially satellite 1958 alpha and sometimes referred to as explorer 1 was the first earth satellite of the united states having been launched at 10 48pm est on 31 january 1958. March 31 1970 burned up on re entry over pacific ocean. Participation in the international geophysical year.

January 31 1958 launch. At a jubilant early morning press conference a few hours later pickering von braun and van allen hoisted a model of explorer 1 over their heads in what has become an iconic photograph. Explorer 1 was the united states first satellite in space. Explorer 1 was launched on january 31 1958 at 22 48 eastern time atop the first juno booster from lc 26 at the cape canaveral missile annex in florida.

The people behind explorer 1. 10 things to know about explorer 1 america s first satellite. Satellite 1958 alpha later and better known as explorer 1 successfully lifted off from cape canaveral florida on jan. Explorer 1 followed a looping flight path that orbited earth once every 114 minutes.

James van allen s discovery of radiation belts around earth held in. The satellite was launched on jan. The satellite which was designed built and operated by the nasa jet propulsion laboratory carried a cosmic ray detector which lead to explorer principal investigator dr. Explorer 1 was the first u s.

It was the first spacecraft to detect the va. May 23 1958 signal ended when batteries ran out. The 1958 launch of the satellite twice the size of a basketball was an important moment for the country as the space race with the. Sixty years ago this week the united states sent its first satellite into space on jan.

The original science robot. Explorer 1 fast facts. The soviet union s sputnik 1 and 2 beginning the cold war space race between the two nations. Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the united states and was part of the u s.