Explorer 1 Satellite Facts

Satellite and the first satellite to carry science instruments.

Explorer 1 satellite facts.

Explorer 1 was the united states first satellite in space. Explorer 1 fast facts. The mission followed the first two satellites the previous year. Explorer 1 became the first successfully launched satellite by the united states when it was sent to space on january 31 1958.

31 1958 from cape canaveral fla. May 23 1958 signal ended when batteries ran out. It was the first spacecraft to detect the va. Explorer 1 was the first u s.

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. 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. The people behind explorer 1.

Participation in the international geophysical year. Sixty years ago this week the united states sent its first satellite into space on jan. James van allen s discovery of radiation belts around earth held in. Explorer 1 followed a looping flight path that orbited earth once every 114 minutes.

January 31 1958 launch. 10 things to know about explorer 1 america s first satellite. 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. 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.

The original science robot. The soviet union s sputnik 1 and 2 beginning the cold war space race between the two nations. The satellite was launched on jan. March 31 1970 burned up on re entry over pacific ocean.