Vanguard

Vanguard is the US Navy's satellite launcher for the International Geophysical Year and America's first attempt at orbit. Its first launch, on 6 December 1957, explodes on the pad, but in March 1958 it places Vanguard 1 in orbit, the first solar-powered satellite and the oldest human-made object still circling Earth. Most of its launches fail.

Launches

11

Success rate

27%

8 failures

First flight

6 December 1957

Vanguard

Last flight

18 September 1959

Vanguard III

Builder

LM

Height

21.9 m

Diameter

1.1 m

Stages

3

Propellants

Kerosene / LOX, UDMH / Nitric acid, Solid

Payload to LEO

9 kg