AeroVia LogoAeroVia
Back to Vehicle Families

Vanguard Launch Vehicle

Vanguard was the three-stage launch vehicle developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for the International Geophysical Year satellite program, with the Glenn L. Martin Company as prime contractor. Derived in part from Viking and Aerobee sounding-rocket technology, it made eleven complete-vehicle orbital attempts from 1957 to 1959 and placed Vanguard I, II, and III into orbit. Vanguard technologies and development practices later influenced launch vehicles including Delta.

Vanguard Launch Vehicle
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center · NASA asset; NASA’s 9139356 catalog identifies Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and describes the exact Vanguard SLV-7 launch designated Vanguard III, with no third-party photographer or copyright holder listed. The stored asset is a resized derivative of that NASA original. NASA’s current Images and Media Usage Guidelines generally permit factual or informational/editorial use with NASA attribution and without implying NASA endorsement. Commercial, promotional, merchandise, logo/insignia, or other protected-rights uses may require separate clearance; verify any third-party rights if later identified. · Source
Follow this vehicle family

Future launches and major activity directly linked to this vehicle family.

Identity

Aliases
Project Vanguard launch vehicleNRL Vanguard
Family Name
Vanguard
Full Name
Vanguard Launch Vehicle
Status
retired
Type
rocket

Details

Description
Vanguard was the three-stage launch vehicle developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory for the International Geophysical Year satellite program, with the Glenn L. Martin Company as prime contractor. Derived in part from Viking and Aerobee sounding-rocket technology, it made eleven complete-vehicle orbital attempts from 1957 to 1959 and placed Vanguard I, II, and III into orbit. Vanguard technologies and development practices later influenced launch vehicles including Delta.
Dimensions
Diameter
…
Height
…
First Flight Year
1,957
Last Flight Year
1,959
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Variant Notes
      Migrated from legacy reference "Aerojet-General AJ10" without inventing a more precise installation.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Variant Notes
      Migrated from legacy reference "Grand Central 133-KS-2800 or ABL X-248" without inventing a more precise installation.
    Name
    Grand Central 133-KS-2800
    Notes
    Documented alternative propulsion installation from the legacy vehicle record.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Variant Notes
      Migrated from legacy reference "Aerojet-General AJ10" without inventing a more precise installation.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Variant Notes
      Migrated from legacy reference "Grand Central 133-KS-2800 or ABL X-248" without inventing a more precise installation.
    Name
    ABL X-248
    Notes
    Documented alternative propulsion installation from the legacy vehicle record.
Rocket Specs
Liftoff Mass
…
Payload Capacity
LEO
…
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
3

Links

Official Url
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19880016045/downloads/19880016045.pdf

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 13, 2026 at 12:34:58 UTC
Updated Time
July 29, 2026 at 15:42:47 UTC
Image
Download