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.
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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 M
- 1.1
- Height M
- 21.9
- First Flight Year
- 1,957
- Last Flight Year
- 1,959
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Nested value
- Nested value
- Nested value
- Name
- Grand Central 133-KS-2800
- Notes
- Documented alternative propulsion installation from the legacy vehicle record.
- Entries
- Nested value
- Nested value
- Nested value
- Name
- ABL X-248
- Notes
- Documented alternative propulsion installation from the legacy vehicle record.
- Rocket Specs
- Liftoff Mass Kg
- 10,385
- Payload Capacity Kg
- Leo
- 24
- Reusability
- expendable
- Stages Count
- 3
Links
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- Creation Time
- July 13, 2026 at 12:34:58 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 29, 2026 at 15:42:47 UTC
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- Search Name
- Vanguard Launch Vehicle Project Vanguard launch vehicle NRL Vanguard