Pioneer 3, a NASA/ABMA lunar flyby and Van Allen radiation probe launched on the first Juno II from Cape Canaveral. First-stage cutoff 3.7 seconds early prevented escape velocity; the probe reached about 102,000 km apogee, measured the outer radiation belt, then reentered.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- Lunar flyby
- Payload to orbit
- 6 kg
- Flight
- 1st
- of 10 Juno II flights
- Date and time
- 6 December 1958, 05:44 UTC
- Rocket
- Juno II
- Builder
- Chrysler
- Launch site
- Launch Complex 5, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
- Payload
- Lunar Exploration
- International designator
- 1958-008
- Launches in 1958
- 27th of 28
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas