Thor DM-18 Able-I | Pioneer 1

Status

Partial Failure

Pioneer 1

Launch Time
Sat Oct 11, 1958 08:42 UTC

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.

Watch

Rocket

Thor DM-18 Able-I

NASA

Status: Retired

Payload to LEO: 120 kg

Stages: 3

Strap-ons: 0

Rocket Height: 27.0 m

Details

Mission Details

Pioneer 1

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.

Payloads: 1

Total Mass: 38.0 kg

Wiki

Location

SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Wiki

Stats

1958

22nd orbital launch attempt

Thor-Able

2nd mission

2nd mission of 1958