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Satellite · Science · United States

Explorer 1

Operated by U.S. Army (ABMA) / JPL.

SatellitesRetiredLaunched 1958

Imagery

Explorer 1

America first satellite, Explorer 1. America joined the space race with the launch of this small, but important spacecraft. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04601

2003

NASA/JPL · NASA media (public domain)

Source archive ↗

Overview

The first satellite launched by the United States, in 1958, whose radiation detector discovered the Van Allen radiation belts. Built by JPL and launched by the U.S. Army — NASA did not yet exist.

Related

Sputnik 1

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.