1958 First American Satellite

Explorer 1 was the united states first satellite in space.

1958 first american satellite. 1958 in spaceflight a juno i launches the first american satellite explorer 1. Explorer 1 was sent into space on a rocket launcher named juno. A satellite is any object that orbits the earth while manmade satellites are machines that can send and receive messages. Satellite discovers van allen belt.

The soviet union s sputnik 1 and 2 beginning the cold war space race between the two nations. The first us satellite explorer 1 was launched on january 31 1958. By clinton parks space news staff writer posted. On january 31 1958 the first american satellite blasted into orbit.

The date was jan. Explorer 1 it was the american answer to the soviet union s sputnik 1 which kicked off the space age when it launched. Explorer 1 was the first american satellite to reach orbit on 31 january 1958. A quick response to the soviet union s launch of sputnik 1 explorer 1 s success marked the beginning of the u s.

Participation in the international geophysical year the mission followed the first two satellites the previous year. The united states enters the space age with the successful launch of the explorer i satellite. 30 january 2008 02 49 pm et. The 1958 launch of the satellite twice the size of a basketball was an important moment for the country as the space race with.

Nasa had yet to be formed and the honor of this first flight belonged to the u s. Data from the satellite confirms. 31 1958 the united states launched its first successful satellite. America s first satellite explorer 1 joined the space race on this day in 1958.

The rocket s sole payload was a javelin shaped satellite built by the jet propulsion laboratory in pasadena california. Explorer 1 was launched on january 31 1958 at 22 48 eastern time february 1 03 48 utc. It carried instruments to study cosmic rays tiny particles whizzing through space.