Payload
EXPLORER 1
DecayedPayloadLEO
Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the United States and was part of the U.S. participation in the International Geophysical Year (IGY). The 1958 mission followed the first two satellites, both launched by the Soviet Union during the previous year, Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2. This began a Space Race during the Cold War between the two nations.
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Launch
- Launch date
- February 1, 1958 at 03:47 AM UTC
- Launch site
- Cape Canaveral SFS, USA
- Launched by
- Juno-I →
- Operator
- Army Ballistic Missile Agency
- Mission
- Explorer 1
- Launch record
- View full launch →
Orbit
- Orbit regime
- LEO
- Apoapsis
- 215 km
- Periapsis
- 183 km
- Inclination
- 33.15°
- Orbital period
- 88.48 min
Identity
- COSPAR (Int'l)
- 1958-001A
- NORAD catalog №
- 4
- Object type
- Payload
- Owner / operator
United States- Status
- Decayed
- Decay / reentry
- March 31, 1970
End of mission
- Last active / ended
- March 31, 1970
- Time in service
- 12.2 years
- Fate
- Reentered Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed.
- Final status
- Decayed