Able 2 (Pioneer 1) lunar-probe spacecraft
Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was the first spacecraft launched by NASA. Its 1958 lunar-orbit mission returned near-Earth environmental data and verified the Van Allen Belts before reentering Earth’s atmosphere two days after launch.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Able 2Pioneer 1Able 2 spacecraftPioneer 1 spacecraftThor-Able 2
- Family Name
- Able 2 (Pioneer 1)
- Full Name
- Able 2 (Pioneer 1) lunar-probe spacecraft
- Roles
- interplanetary_probeorbitertechnology_demonstratorresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was the first spacecraft launched by NASA. Its 1958 lunar-orbit mission returned near-Earth environmental data and verified the Van Allen Belts before reentering Earth’s atmosphere two days after launch.
- First Flight Year
- 1,958
- Last Flight Year
- 1,958
- Spacecraft Specs
- Launch Mass Kg
- 38.3
- Reusability
- expendable
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 03:57:38 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 15, 2026 at 03:57:38 UTC