VANGUARD 1

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VANGUARD 1 is classified as:

Space & Earth Science

NORAD ID: 5

Int'l Code: 1958-002B

Perigee: 659.5 km

Apogee: 3,832.7 km

Inclination: 34.2 °

Period: 132.7 minutes

Semi major axis: 8617 km

RCS: 0.118 m² (medium)

Launch date: March 17, 1958
Source: United States (US)
Launch site: AIR FORCE EASTERN TEST RANGE (AFETR)

Vanguard 1 was a small earth-orbiting satellite designed to test the launch capabilities of a three-stage launch vehicle and the effects of the environment on a satellite and its systems in Earth orbit. It also was used to obtain geodetic measurements through orbit analysis.

1 00005U 58002B   24117.91596090  .00001479  00000-0  18724-2 0  9999
2 00005  34.2499 205.2756 1841215 216.6649 129.2866 10.85326490358357

Source of the keplerian elements: Caltech