Vanguard 1

Fourth artificial Earth orbital satellite. Vanguard 1 was launched on March 17, 1958 aboard a Vanguard from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: in orbit.

COSPAR 1958 BET 2NORAD 5United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Vanguard I
Common name: Vanguard 1
Payload designation: Vanguard Test Satellite H
Other names: :UA,:VA
International designator: 1958 BET 2
NORAD catalog number: 5
GCAT identifier: S00005
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.001

Mission

Mission type: Technology
Use: Civil government
Program: Vanguard Test
Owner: NRL
Country: United States
Builder: Naval Research Lab
Platform (bus): NRL 6"

Launch

Date: March 17, 1958 · 12:15 UTC
Launch record: 1958 BETSuccess
Rocket: Vanguard
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC18A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): MEO
Perigee: 657 km
Apogee: 3,935 km
Inclination: 34.25°
Status: In orbit
Last known active: March 1964
End of operations: March 1964

Size

Mass: 2 kg
Dry mass: 2 kg
Length: 0.1 m
Diameter: 0.10 m
Span: 0.1 m

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q676802 (CC0).