When was Explorer 1 launched into orbit?
Explorer 1 lifted off at 03:47:56 GMT on the 1st of February 1958. The Juno I rocket experienced a jet stream delay on the 28th of January 1958 before achieving launch.
Explorer 1 lifted off at 03:47:56 GMT on the 1st of February 1958. The Juno I rocket experienced a jet stream delay on the 28th of January 1958 before achieving launch.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory under Dr. William Hayward Pickering designed and built Explorer 1. The Army Ballistic Missile Agency modified the Jupiter-C rocket to become the Juno I booster for this mission.
Explorer 1 stopped transmission of data on the 23rd of May 1958 when its mercury chemical batteries expired. The satellite remained in orbit for more than 12 years until it reentered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on the 31st of March 1970.
A total of 20 transistors were used in Explorer 1 plus additional ones in the Army's micrometeorite amplifier. Engineers selected germanium and silicon transistors because limited space required low weight.
Explorer 1 ceased transmission of data on the 23rd of May 1958 due to battery failure. The high-power transmitter operated for 31 days while the low-power transmitter functioned for 105 days before shutting down.