Able 2 (Pioneer 1) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was NASA’s first spacecraft, launched in 1958 toward lunar orbit. A Thor-Able guidance and propulsion failure prevented lunar orbit, but the probe returned measurements of the near-Earth environment and verified the Van Allen Belts before reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
Follow this vehicle family
Future launches and major activity directly linked to this vehicle family.
Identity
- Aliases
- Pioneer 1Able 2Pioneer IThor-Able I no. 1
- Family Name
- Able 2 (Pioneer 1)
- Full Name
- Able 2 (Pioneer 1) lunar-orbiter spacecraft family
- Roles
- orbiterinterplanetary_probetechnology_demonstratorresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was NASA’s first spacecraft, launched in 1958 toward lunar orbit. A Thor-Able guidance and propulsion failure prevented lunar orbit, but the probe returned measurements of the near-Earth environment and verified the Van Allen Belts before reentering Earth’s atmosphere.
- First Flight Year
- 1,958
- Last Flight Year
- 1,958
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 07:36:00 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 01:33:13 UTC