Explorer A
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Explorer 1 / Explorer A
Credit: NASA
American earth magnetosphere satellite. Discovered Van Allen radiation belts. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space.
More at: Explorer-1.
Related
- Family
- Earth, Magnetosphere sat
- Country
- USA
- Projects
- Explorer
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC5, Cape Canaveral LC26A
- Agency
- US Army
Photo Gallery
Explorer 1
Pickering, Van Allen, and Von Braun hold a model of Explorer 1 in triumph at a post-flight press conference.
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Lift-off of Explorer 1
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Jupiter C / Explorer 1 mission
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 cutaway
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 being mounted on the pad
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Explorer 1 atop the Jupiter-C on the pad
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
The launch room during the Explorer 1 launch
Credit: NASA
Explorer 1
Credit: Manufacturer Image
Chronology
7 events
1954 June 25
LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Project Orbiter begun. - .
Nation: USA.
Related Persons: von Braun.
Spacecraft Bus: Explorer.
Spacecraft: Explorer A.
In a meeting, Dr. Wernher von Braun, Frederick C. Durant III, Alexander Satin, David Young, Dr. Fred L. Whipple, Dr. S. Fred Singer, and Commander George W. Hoover agreed that a Redstone rocket with a Loki cluster as the second stage could launch a satellite into a 200-mile orbit without major new developments. This became a joint Army-Navy study project after meeting at Redstone Arsenal on August 3. Project Orbiter was a later outgrowth of this proposal and resulted in the launching of Explorer I on January 31, 1958.
1954 August 15
LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Von Braun proposes launch of US satellite. - . Payload: Explorer A. Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer. Spacecraft: Explorer A. Von Braun report 'A Minimum Satellite Vehicle Based on Components Available from Developments of the Army Ordnance Corps' in response to June Pentagon meeting proposes $ 100,000 to launch satellite by Redstone..
1955 August 24
LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Redstone recommended as satellite launcher. - .
Payload: Explorer A. Nation: USA.
Related Persons: von Braun.
Program: Explorer.
Class: Earth.
Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer.
Spacecraft: Explorer A.
Research and development Policy Council (DOD) unanimously recommended that the time-risk factor in the scientific satellite program be brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Defense for determination as to whether a Redstone backup program was indicated.
1957 October 5
LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Von Braun promises first US satellite in 60 days. - . Payload: Explorer A. Nation: USA. Related Persons: McElroy, Medaris, von Braun. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer. Spacecraft: Explorer A. Von Braun briefs Secretary of Defence McElroy on Jupiter-C/Redstone for immediate US satellite launch. Promises launch in 60 days. Medaris says 90..
1958 February 1
03:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC26A. LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Explorer 1 - .
Payload: Explorer A. Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Nation: USA.
Related Persons: von Braun.
Agency: US Army.
Program: Explorer.
Class: Earth.
Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer.
Spacecraft: Explorer A.
Decay Date: 1970-03-31 . USAF Sat Cat: 4 . COSPAR: 1958-Alpha-1. Apogee: 1,859 km (1,155 mi). Perigee: 347 km (215 mi). Inclination: 33.20 deg. Period: 107.20 min.
Explorer I, the first U.S. earth satellite, was launched by a modified Army Ballistic Missile Agency Jupiter-C. Explorer I, developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, carried the U.S.-IGY (International Geophysical Year) experiment of James A. Van Allen and resulted in the discovery of the radiation belt around the earth.
1958 March 5
18:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC26A. LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C. FAILURE: Fourth Stage failed to ignite.. Failed Stage: 4.- Explorer 2 - . Payload: Explorer A. Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Agency: US Army. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer. Spacecraft: Explorer A. Decay Date: 1958-03-05 .
1958 March 26
17:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC5. LV Family: Redstone. Launch Vehicle: Jupiter C.- Explorer 3 - . Payload: Explorer A. Mass: 5.00 kg (11.00 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: von Braun. Agency: US Army. Program: Explorer. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft Bus: Explorer. Spacecraft: Explorer A. Decay Date: 1958-06-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 6 . COSPAR: 1958-Gamma-1. Apogee: 2,799 km (1,739 mi). Perigee: 186 km (115 mi). Inclination: 33.40 deg. Period: 115.70 min. Radiation, micrometeoroid data. .