Pioneer 1 (Able 2), the first spacecraft launched under NASA auspices, a Thor-Able lunar orbiter from Cape Canaveral LC-17A. A guidance/velocity error prevented lunar orbit, but the probe reached about 113,800 km apogee over a 43-hour flight and returned radiation and micrometeorite data.
- Outcome
- Partial
- Orbit
- LO
- Lunar orbit
- Payload to orbit
- 38 kg
- Flight
- 2nd
- of 3 Thor Able I flights
- Date and time
- 11 October 1958, 08:42 UTC
- Rocket
- Thor Able I
- Builder
- McDonnell Douglas
- Launch site
- Space Launch Complex 17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
- Payload
- Lunar Exploration
- International designator
- 1958-007
- Launches in 1958
- 22nd of 28
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas