Able 2 (Pioneer 1)
Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was the physical lunar-probe spacecraft launched on 11 October 1958 as the first spacecraft launched by NASA. A Thor second-stage cutoff prevented lunar injection, but the probe returned near-Earth radiation and magnetic-field data, verified the Van Allen Belts, and reentered on 13 October.
Identity
- Aliases
- Able 2 spacecraftPioneer 1Pioneer 1 Able 2
- Name
- Able 2 (Pioneer 1)
- Status
- retired
Details
- Description
- Able 2, later named Pioneer 1, was the physical lunar-probe spacecraft launched on 11 October 1958 as the first spacecraft launched by NASA. A Thor second-stage cutoff prevented lunar injection, but the probe returned near-Earth radiation and magnetic-field data, verified the Van Allen Belts, and reentered on 13 October.
- First Flight Date
- 1958-10-11
- Vehicle Family
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:42:56 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 6, 2026 at 19:42:56 UTC
Other
- Last Flight Date
- 1958-10-13
- Serial Number
- Able 2
- Vehicle Code
- Able 2