Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This is one of several examples of the Explorer 1 payload section in the collection, consisting of machined and painted metal shells with no instrumentation. This outer shell protected the payload instrumentation, as represented by other objects in the coolection.

Explorer 1, also known unofficially as Satellite 1958 alpha, was the first American satellite to successfully orbit the earth. The launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 and the launch failure of the Vanguard 1 satellite in December of that year seemed to symbolize America's failure to lead in the Cold War-driven Space Race. Since the mid-1950's Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) had underway a development program for missile reentry vehicles in conjunction with the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA). Soon after the Vanguard explosion the JPL- ABMA team were authorized to adapt the Jupiter-C reentry test vehicle to an instrumented Earth satellite. The resulting Explorer 1 satellite was successfully launched and placed into Earth orbit on January 31, 1958. The satellite transmitted data on micrometeorites and cosmic radiation for 105 days. Data from this and two subsequent Explorer satellites led to the discovery by James Van Allen of a belt of intense radiation surrounding the Earth.

Transferred from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory via NASA to the Museum in February 1975.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Parts & Structural Components Manufacturer Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Dimensions Overall: 93.98 x 15.88cm (3ft 1in. x 6 1/4in.)
Materials Ferrous Alloy
Non-Magnetic Metal
Paint
Inventory Number A19751442001 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.
You may also like The Missing History of the Explorer 1 Satellite