Vanguard
Vanguard
US Navy
Mission
Vanguard
Type: Earth Science
Vanguard is a scientific satellite to measure the Earth’s magnetic field, solar X-ray radiation and its effects on the Earth’s atmosphere and the near-Earth micrometeoroid environment.
Trajectory
The trajectory is unavailable. Check back for updates.
Location
Launch Complex 18A
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
877 rockets have launched from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA.
Rocket
Vanguard – Lockheed Martin
- Family: Vanguard
- Length: 23 m
- Diameter: 1.14 m
- Launch Mass: 10 T
- Low Earth Orbit Capacity: 9 kg
The Vanguard was manufactured by Lockheed Martin with the first launch on 1957-10-23. Vanguard has 3 successful launches and 8 failed launches with a total of 11 launches. The Vanguard rocket was intended to be the first launch vehicle the United States would use to place a satellite into orbit. Instead, the Sputnik crisis caused by the surprise launch of Sputnik 1 led the U.S., after the failure of Vanguard TV3, to quickly orbit the Explorer 1 satellite using a Juno I rocket, making Vanguard I the second successful U.S. orbital launch.
Agency
US Navy – USN
- Type: Government
- Abbreviation: USN
- Founded: 1963
- Spacecraft: Vanguard 1-3 | Parker Solar Probe
- Country: USA
The Navy was competed with the Army to put the first American satellite into orbit. Their first two Vanguard missions failed, with the second being a highly publicized failure, as it exploded on the launchpad. They went on to put 3 satellites into orbit but did not beat the Army to be the first. Their work in space continues today largely on military satellites.
