Explorer 1 Satellite Launch

January 31 1958 launch.

Explorer 1 satellite launch.

The soviet union s sputnik 1 and 2 beginning the cold war space race between the two nations. After two days of delays explorer 1 was launched atop a jupiter c rocket from cape canaveral florida on jan. The mission followed the first two satellites the previous year. May 23 1958 signal ended when batteries ran out.

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. Explorer 1 fast facts. In january 1958 the united states launched its first satellite from cape canaveral florida in response to the soviet union s launch of the sputnik satellite. Launch of explorer 1 satellite.

Explorer 1 became the first successfully launched satellite by the united states when it was sent to space on january 31 1958. Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the united states when it was sent into space on january 31 1958. It was the first spacecraft to detect the va. Explorer 1 was the united states first satellite in space.

March 31 1970 burned up on re entry over pacific ocean. A quick response to the soviet union s launch of sputnik 1 explorer 1 s success marked the beginning of the u s. 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. Following the launch of the soviet union s sputnik 1 on october 4 1957 the u s.

In the following decades nearly a hundred spacecraft would be given the designation explorer the satellite continued to transmit data for about four months until its batteries were exhausted and it ceased operating on may 23 1958. It took a little over 90 minutes before the satellite s signal was tracked and mission leaders could confirm its success. Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the united states and was part of the u s. Explorer 1 was carried into orbit by a jupiter c rocket launched from cape canaveral florida at 10 48 p m.

Following the launch the spacecraft was given its official name explorer 1.