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Vanguard
22m
Human (1.8m)
1.8m
Vanguard / Credits: Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons)
United StatesRetired1957–1959
Vanguard
Glenn L. Martin Co. / US Navy
The US Navy's early orbital rocket — infamous for its televised explosion in December 1957.
Vanguard was the US Navy's attempt to independently develop an orbital launch vehicle during the Cold War space race. Its high-profile failure in December 1957 — two days after the Soviet Sputnik 2 — was broadcast live on television and became known as 'Kaputnik' or 'Flopnik' by the press. Despite early failures, three successful launches placed small scientific satellites into orbit. Vanguard 1, launched in 1958, remains the oldest man-made satellite still in orbit.
Fun facts
Vanguard 1, launched in March 1958, is the oldest artificial satellite still orbiting Earth today.
Its first televised launch attempt in December 1957 exploded 2 seconds after ignition, earning the nickname 'Flopnik'.
Vanguard's scientific data revealed that Earth is slightly pear-shaped — not a perfect oblate spheroid.
Height
22 m
Diameter
1.14 m
Mass
10.3 t
Stages
3
Thrust
124 kN
Payload LEO
10 kg
Payload GTO
—
Total flights
11
Success rate22.7%
2 success1 partial8 failure
Launch pads
- LC-18A, Cape Canaveral
No upcoming launches scheduled.
