Explorer 1, America's first artificial satellite, launched on a Juno I (Jupiter-C) from Cape Canaveral on 1 February 1958 (31 January EST). The JPL/ABMA cosmic-ray payload discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, establishing the United States in the Space Race.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- LEO
- Low Earth orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 8 kg
- Flight
- 1st
- of 6 Juno-I flights
- Date and time
- 1 February 1958, 03:47 UTC
- Rocket
- Juno-I
- Builder
- Chrysler
- Launch site
- Launch Complex 26A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
- Payload
- Test Flight
- International designator
- 1958-001
- Launches in 1958
- 1st of 28
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
Object pages on Space Atlas: Explorer 1
View satellites in Space Atlas