First American Satellite To Orbit Earth

John glenn becomes first american to orbit earth from cape canaveral florida john hershel glenn jr.

First american satellite to orbit earth.

In early 1958 the space race the cold war competition between the u s. Participation in the international geophysical year the mission followed the first two satellites the previous year. Or 183 9 pounds and took about 98 minutes to orbit earth on its elliptical path. Explorer i s small package of instruments produced the first major discovery of the space age the van allen radiation.

The world s first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball 58 cm or 22 8 inches in diameter weighed only 83 6 kg. The 18 pound satellite had a cylindrical shape and was 80 inches long and six inches in diameter. On board the small satellite was a little dog laika the first animal to orbit earth. And the soviet union over space exploration.

13 91 kg 30 66 lb february 5. Satellite explorer i was launched into earth orbit by the army on jan. Glenn jr became the first american to orbit earth. Explorer 1 was the first satellite launched by the united states and was part of the u s.

Explorer 1 was launched on january 31 1958 at 22 48 eastern time february 1 03 48 utc. Launched by isro first indian low orbit earth observation satellite 1980s. The soviet union stunned the world on nov. The first american satellite in space.

On february 20 1962 john h. 31 1958 at cape canaveral florida four months after russia orbited sputnik. On january 31 1958 the first american satellite blasted into orbit. The flight lasted a total of 4 hours 55 minutes and 23 seconds before the friendship 7 spacecraft splashed down in the ocean.

The satellite remained aloft for more than a decade before re entering earth s atmosphere on march 31 1970. An atlas launch vehicle propelled a mercury spacecraft into earth orbit and enabled glenn to circle earth three times. The first successful u s. 3 1957 with the launch of sputnik 2.

Is successfully launched into space aboard the friendship 7 spacecraft on the first orbital. Explorer 1 sent data back to earth for four months ceasing communications on may 23 1958.