Payload
VANGUARD 1
activePayloadMEO
Vanguard 1 is an American satellite that was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to be successfully launched, following Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1. It was launched 17 March 1958. Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power. Although communications with the satellite were lost in 1964, it remains the oldest artificial object still in orbit, together with the upper stage of its launch vehicle.
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Launch
- Launch date
- March 17, 1958 at 12:15 PM UTC
- Launch site
- Cape Canaveral SFS, USA
- Launched by
- Vanguard →
- Operator
- US Navy
- Mission
- Vanguard
- Launch record
- View full launch →
Orbit
- Orbit regime
- MEO
- Apoapsis
- 3,816 km
- Periapsis
- 654 km
- Inclination
- 34.25°
- Orbital period
- 132.6 min
Spacecraft
- Operator
- United States
- Launch mass
- 1.46 kg
Identity
- COSPAR (Int'l)
- 1958-002B
- NORAD catalog №
- 5
- Object type
- Payload
- Owner / operator
United States- Radar cross-section
- 0.122 m²
- Status
- active