On this day in New Mexico history - January 31, 1958 - the product of much research in New Mexico, Explorer 1, first US satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The research work starting in New Mexico at White Sands Proving Grounds, later called, White Sands Missile Range.Captured V2 German rockets at the end of WWII lead the way. Experience with the V2 (black & white photo on right) gave scientists data they needed to develop our own rockets. The first was the WAC Corporal flown
17 times, reaching an altitude of 80 miles. It would be a test bed for multi staging. Explorer I followed the first two Earth satellites in space the previous year, Soviet's Sputnik 1 & 2. Explorer 1 was the first spacecraft to detect the Van Allen radiation belt, returning data until batteries exhausted four months later. It remained in orbit for 12 years. It reentered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on March 19, 1970 after more than 58,000 orbits.
17 times, reaching an altitude of 80 miles. It would be a test bed for multi staging. Explorer I followed the first two Earth satellites in space the previous year, Soviet's Sputnik 1 & 2. Explorer 1 was the first spacecraft to detect the Van Allen radiation belt, returning data until batteries exhausted four months later. It remained in orbit for 12 years. It reentered the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on March 19, 1970 after more than 58,000 orbits.
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