NASA Jupiter C Launch Vehicle

Explorer 1 was the first satellite successfully launched by the United States and marked the beginning of the U.S. space program. Launched on January 31, 1958, Explorer 1 was carried into space atop a Jupiter C launch vehicle. When used as a satellite launching vehicle, the Jupiter-C is sometimes referred to as the Juno-I.

The Juno I launch vehicle was a modified Redstone ballistic missile that was developed to carry the satellite into orbit. The launch was conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The success of this mission marked a significant milestone in the Space Race, following the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1.

Explorer 1 conducted experiments to study cosmic rays and detect the Van Allen radiation belts around Earth. The mission provided important scientific data and contributed to our understanding of the space environment. Explorer 1's success marked the beginning of the United States' active involvement in space exploration, and it laid the foundation for future missions and the establishment of NASA in 1958.