American earth magnetosphere satellite. 4 launches, 1958.05.28 (Vanguard 2B) to 1959.02.17 (Vanguard 2). The actual operational satellite that was to be launched by the Vanguard launcher.
The only successful one operated for 18 days; satellite wobble degraded data.
Gross mass: 10 kg (22 lb).
First Launch: 1958.05.28.
Last Launch: 1959.02.17.
Number: 4 .
More... - Chronology...
Associated Countries
See also
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Vanguard Vanguard was the 'civilian' vehicle developed by the US Navy to launch America's first satellite as part of the International Geophysical Year. The Army / von Braun Jupiter-C instead launched the first US satellite after Sputnik and Vanguard's public launch failure. The second stage design led to the Able upper stage for Thor/Atlas, and then to the Delta upper stage still in use in the 21st Century. The original version of Vanguard used a Grand Central final stage. More...
Associated Launch Vehicles
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Vanguard American orbital launch vehicle. Vanguard was the 'civilian' vehicle developed by the US Navy to launch America's first satellite as part of the International Geophysical Year. The Army / von Braun Jupiter-C instead launched the first US satellite after Sputnik and Vanguard's public launch failure. The second stage design led to the Able upper stage for Thor/Atlas, and then to the Delta upper stage still in use in the 21st Century. The original version of Vanguard used a Grand Central final stage. More...
Associated Manufacturers and Agencies
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NASA American agency overseeing development of rockets and spacecraft. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA, USA. More...
Associated Programs
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Vanguard Relatively unsuccessful program to launch the United States first artifical satellite of the earth. More...
Bibliography
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McDowell, Jonathan, Jonathan's Space Home Page (launch records), Harvard University, 1997-present. Web Address when accessed: here.
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JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 1997. Web Address when accessed: here.
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Bramscher, Robert G, "A Survey of Launch Vehicle Failures", Spaceflight, 1980, Volume 22, page 351.
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Grimwood, James M., Project Mercury: A Chronology, NASA Special Publication-4001.
Associated Launch Sites
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Cape Canaveral America's largest launch center, used for all manned launches. Today only six of the 40 launch complexes built here remain in use. Located at or near Cape Canaveral are the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, used by NASA for Saturn V and Space Shuttle launches; Patrick AFB on Cape Canaveral itself, operated the US Department of Defense and handling most other launches; the commercial Spaceport Florida; the air-launched launch vehicle and missile Drop Zone off Mayport, Florida, located at 29.00 N 79.00 W, and an offshore submarine-launched ballistic missile launch area. All of these take advantage of the extensive down-range tracking facilities that once extended from the Cape, through the Caribbean, South Atlantic, and to South Africa and the Indian Ocean. More...
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Cape Canaveral LC18A Viking, Vanguard, Scout launch complex. The LC18 complex included two launch pads 18A and 18B. Pad 18A was used to launch 14 Vanguard space vehicles for NASA and the U.S. Navy between 8 December 1956 and 19 September 1959. Following termination of the Vanguard program, Pad 18A supported ten Blue Scout Junior launches for the Air Force between 21 September 1960 and 10 June 1965. Complex 18 was deactivated on 1 February 1967. More...
Vanguard 2 Chronology
1952 May 16 - .
- International Geophysical Year Committee established. - .
Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2; Sputnik 3. Summary: The Special Committee for the International Polar Year (later designated the International Geophysical Year), was established..
1955 March 19 - .
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
- Plan for a United States satellite in the International Geophysical Year - .
Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eisenhower. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Summary: Dr. Alan T. Waterman of the National Science Foundation presented President Dwight Eisenhower with a plan to implement the United States' portion of the International Geophysical Year satellite experiment..
1955 July 29 - .
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
- Eisenhower approves earth satellites for IGY - .
Nation: USA. Related Persons: Eisenhower. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Summary: President Eisenhower endorsed the IGY proposal for the launching of small earth-circling satellites..
1955 September 9 - .
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
- Project Vanguard began operations. - .
Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. The Department of Defense's Stewart Committee reviewed the alternatives for an IGY satellite program: wait for the development of an Atlas launcher, use a modified Redstone, or develop a rocket derived from the Viking missile. The committee voted seven to two in favor of abandoning Project Orbiter (Redstone) and developing Vanguard (Viking derivative with and Aerobee-Hi upper stage). Secretary Donald Quarles ruled with the committee majority in the Department of Defense Policy Committee, which approved the decision. The Department of Defense wrote a letter to the Department of Navy authorizing the Navy Research Laboratory to proceed with the Vanguard proposal. The responsibility for carrying out the program was placed with the Office of Naval Research. Objectives of Project Vanguard were: to develop and procure a satellite-launching vehicle; to place at least one satellite in orbit around the earth during IGY; to accomplish one scientific experiment; and to track flight to demonstrate the satellite actually attained orbit.
1958 May 28 - .
03:46 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Cape Canaveral.
Launch Complex:
Cape Canaveral LC18A.
Launch Pad: LC18A.
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
LV Configuration: Vanguard SLV-1.
FAILURE: Improper third stage trajectory - unknown cause..
Failed Stage: 3.
- Vanguard 2B - .
Payload: Lyman Alpha satellite. Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Vanguard. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Decay Date: 1958-05-27 . COSPAR: F580528A. Apogee: 3,500 km (2,100 mi).
1958 June 26 - .
05:00 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Cape Canaveral.
Launch Complex:
Cape Canaveral LC18A.
Launch Pad: LC18A.
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
LV Configuration: Vanguard SLV-2.
FAILURE: Premature second stage cutoff. Unknown cause..
Failed Stage: 2.
- Vanguard 2C - .
Payload: Lyman Alpha satellite. Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Vanguard. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Decay Date: 1958-06-26 . COSPAR: F580626A. Apogee: 165 km (102 mi).
1958 September 26 - .
15:38 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Cape Canaveral.
Launch Complex:
Cape Canaveral LC18A.
Launch Pad: LC18A.
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
LV Configuration: Vanguard SLV-3.
FAILURE: Insufficient 2nd stage thrust - unknown cause..
Failed Stage: 2.
- Vanguard 2D - .
Payload: Cloud cover satellite. Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Program: Vanguard. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. Decay Date: 1958-09-26 . COSPAR: F580926A. Apogee: 426 km (264 mi).
1959 February 17 - .
15:55 GMT - .
Launch Site:
Cape Canaveral.
Launch Complex:
Cape Canaveral LC18A.
Launch Pad: LC18A.
LV Family:
Vanguard.
Launch Vehicle:
Vanguard.
LV Configuration: Vanguard SLV-4.
- Vanguard 2 - .
Payload: Vanguard 2E / Cloud cover satellite. Mass: 10 kg (22 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Vanguard. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere satellite. Spacecraft: Vanguard 2. USAF Sat Cat: 11 . COSPAR: 1959-Alpha-1. Apogee: 3,049 km (1,894 mi). Perigee: 557 km (346 mi). Inclination: 32.9000 deg. Period: 122.80 min. Summary: Operated for 18 days; satellite wobble degraded data..
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