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Vanguard 1

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vanguard 1
A model of Vanguard 1
NamesVanguard TV-4
Vanguard Test Vehicle-Four
Mission typeEarth science
OperatorNaval Research Laboratory
Harvard designation1958-Beta 2
COSPAR ID1958-002B
SATCAT no.00005Edit this on Wikidata
Mission durationPlanned: 90 Days
Elasped: 66 years, 6 months and 18 days
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftVanguard 1
Spacecraft typeVanguard
Launch mass1.46 kg (3.2 lb)
Dimensions152 mm (6.0 in) diameter; 3.0 ft (0.91 m) antenna span
Start of mission
Launch dateMarch 17, 1958 12:15:41 GMT
RocketVanguard TV-4
Launch siteCape Canaveral Air Force Station LC-18A
ContractorGlenn L. Martin Company
End of mission
DisposalDecomissioned
Last contactMay 1964
Decay date2198 (estimated)
~ 240 years orbital lifetime
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeMedium Earth orbit
Periapsis654 km (406 mi)
Apoapsis3,969 km (2,466 mi)
Inclination34.25°
Period134.27 minutes
Project Vanguard
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Vanguard TV-5 →
 

Vanguard 1 is an American satellite that was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to be successfully launched, following Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1. it was launched 17 March 1958. Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power.

Vanguard 1 was designed to test the launch capabilities of a three-stage launch vehicle as a part of Project Vanguard, and the effects of the space environment on a satellite and its systems in Earth orbit. It also was used to obtain geodetic measurements through orbit analysis. Vanguard 1, being small and light enough to carry with one hand, was described by the Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, as "the grapefruit satellite".

Spacecraft design

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The spacecraft is a 1.46 kg (3.2 lb) aluminum sphere 6 inches (152 mm) in diameter, with antennae spanning 3 feet. It contains a 10 mW, 108 MHz transmitter powered by a mercury battery and a 5 mW, 108.03 MHz transmitter that was powered by six solar cells mounted on the body of the satellite. Six 30 cm (12 in) long antennas, 0.8 cm (0.31 in) diameter spring-actuated aluminum alloy aerials protrude from the sphere. The transmitters were used primarily for engineering and tracking data, but were also used to determine the total electron content between the satellite and the ground stations.

A backup version of Vanguard 1 is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.