Pioneer 1

Launch Partial Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

08:42:13

Saturday October 11, 1958

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The third stage underperformed and Pioneer 1 failed to reach the Moon. However, the spacecraft was still able to transmit data on radiation between the Earth and Moon. It was the first NASA launch.

Pioneer 1

Wiki

Despite not reaching the moon, a small quantity of useful scientific information was returned, showing the radiation surrounding Earth was in the form of bands and measuring the extent of the bands, mapping the total ionizing flux, making the first observations of hydromagnetic oscillations of the magnetic field, and taking the first measurements of the density of micrometeorites and the Interplanetary Magnetic Field.

1 Payload

38 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Thor DM-18 Able-I

Active in 1958

United States Air Force logo

Manufacturer

US Air Force

Rocket

Height: 27m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 120 kg

Stages

3

Launch Site

SLC-17A

Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Fastest Turnaround

11 days 12 hours

Stats

Thor-Able


2nd

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1958

1958


22nd

Orbital launch attempt