1958

1958 · National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Pioneer 3

successJuno II | Pioneer 3

Pioneer 3 was a spin-stabilized spacecraft intended as a lunar probe but failed to perform a lunar flyby as planned. Its mission was revised to measure radiation in the outer Van Allen radiation belts.

Overview

Date / time
December 6, 1958 at 05:44 AM UTC
Outcome
success
Launch site
Launch Complex 5
Mission
Pioneer 3
Mission type
Lunar Exploration
Orbit achieved
Lunar flyby

Payloads deployed · 1