Satellites · 2
Technology Demonstrators
Satellites that pioneered new techniques — from solar power to solar sailing.
- Vanguard 1Retired (still in orbit)
An early U.S. technology and science satellite — the oldest human-made object still in orbit, and the first satellite to use solar cells.
OperatorU.S. Naval Research LaboratoryOrbitMEOLaunched1958 - LightSail 2Retired
A crowdfunded CubeSat that demonstrated controlled solar sailing in Earth orbit, raising its orbit using only the pressure of sunlight.
OperatorThe Planetary SocietyOrbitLEOLaunched2019