50th Anniversary of Explorer 1

Hi,

Tonight sees the 50th anniversary of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite in orbit. This was the first in a long line of scientific satellites that continue to this day.

By the way, 22nd Jan was the 40th anniversary of the first flight of the LEM (as it was known then), without its legs! This was the only unmanned test in orbit, before the manned test on Apollo 9 four months before the first moon landing.

John

Explorer 1 was tiny.

See photo of the three designers lifting a replica:

cgi.ebay.com/Explorer-1-SAT-designers-Pi...416993QQcmdZViewItem

Yet it made the first great discovery of the space age.
The Van Allen Radiation Belts.

(James A. Van Allen is the middle one in the picture.)

I have a piece of the launch pad they used for Explorer 1. 'Tis only a tiny piece mind - it's stuck to a card that also certifys it. Have it stuck on my bedroom wall. A friend of mine did some work experience in Cape Kennedy a few summers ago and she got it for me there.

Good too see someone elses collects these things aswell as me!!!!

I have a piece of the launch pad they used for Explorer 1. 'Tis only a tiny piece mind....

Some mothers do have 'em.