Explorer 1 was big news. Related Persons: von Braun. Nation: USA. The Juno-1 launch vehicle consisted of four propulsive stages. The Jupiter-C launched Explorer I on 31 January 1958 as the U.S.'s first artificial satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer.
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Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.. Project Orbiter begun.
The Explorer 1 instruments recorded cosmic rays, micrometeorites, temperatures, and radiations.
Launched late on 31 January 1958 (10:48 p.m. EST, or 03:48 UTC on 01 February) on an Juno-1 rocket (adapted Jupiter-C), Explorer 1 carried instrumentation for the study of cosmic rays, micrometeorites, and for monitoring of the satellite's temperature.. Spacecraft: Explorer A.. Read some of the DOD press releases, including a detailed recap of launch activity, and see some newspaper headlines of the day here.
Ford Botches Explorer Launch, Putting CEO Back on the Hot Seat By . "The launch of Explorer 1 marked the beginning of U.S. spaceflight, as well as the scientific exploration of space, which led to a series of bold missions that have opened humanity's eyes to new wonders of the solar system," said Michael Watkins, current director of JPL. Technicians lower the Explorer 1 satellite payload onto the launch vehicle's fourth-stage motor.
The Jupiter-C was a modified version of the Army's 200-mile range Redstone liquid-fuel ballistic missile with added solid-fuel upper stages plus the satellite.
- . Explorer 1, as it would soon come to be called, was America's first satellite. 1954 June 25 - .LV Family: Redstone. The Department of Defense (DOD) touted the success of the Army's rocket, and the headlines in newspapers across the world told readers about the wonders of the new "man-made moon." Explorer 1 was the first successfully launched U. S. spacecraft. Facts on the launch, orbit and science experiments of Explorer 1 and milestones leading up to the mission.