Vanguard 1 Solar-Powered Satellite
Vanguard 1, launched in 1958, was the world’s first solar-powered satellite and the second U.S. satellite in orbit; it tested solar power and the space environment, contributed to Earth-shape and atmospheric-drag studies, and remains the oldest artificial object orbiting Earth.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Vanguard 1Vanguard-IVanguard TV-4Vanguard 1 satellite
- Family Name
- Vanguard 1
- Full Name
- Vanguard 1 Solar-Powered Satellite
- Roles
- orbiterobservatoryresearchtechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Vanguard 1, launched in 1958, was the world’s first solar-powered satellite and the second U.S. satellite in orbit; it tested solar power and the space environment, contributed to Earth-shape and atmospheric-drag studies, and remains the oldest artificial object orbiting Earth.
- First Flight Year
- 1,958
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Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 14, 2026 at 07:06:14 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 14, 2026 at 07:06:14 UTC