Pioneer 1
Pioneer 1, also called Able 2, was a 1958 lunar-orbit attempt conducted by the U.S. Air Force under the newly established NASA. It carried instruments for lunar imaging, radiation, magnetic fields and micrometeoroids. Premature upper-stage shutdown left it unable to escape Earth, and it reentered the atmosphere after about 43 hours, but it returned useful radiation and geomagnetic measurements.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Pioneer 1Able 2Pioneer I
- Name
- Pioneer 1
- Status
- failed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Pioneer 1, also called Able 2, was a 1958 lunar-orbit attempt conducted by the U.S. Air Force under the newly established NASA. It carried instruments for lunar imaging, radiation, magnetic fields and micrometeoroids. Premature upper-stage shutdown left it unable to escape Earth, and it reentered the atmosphere after about 43 hours, but it returned useful radiation and geomagnetic measurements.
- Destination
- Failed lunar-orbit attempt; reached approximately 114,750 km altitude and returned near-Earth and Van Allen Belt data before reentry
- End Date
- 1958-10-13
- Outcome
- The probe did not reach lunar orbit. Its near-Earth observations nevertheless verified the Van Allen radiation belts and supplied data on the geomagnetic environment.
- Programs
- Start Date
- 1958-10-11
- Vehicle Families
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 18:07:18 UTC
- Updated Time
- October 17, 2026 at 14:01:59 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles