Project Vanguard
How the U.S. Navy's Vanguard rocket became a Cold War icon, launched the world's oldest satellite still in orbit, and laid the groundwork for NASA's space exploration efforts.
Launch Date
September 9, 1992
Launch Site
Launch Pad
LC17A
Launch Vehicle
Delta 7925
NORAD ID
22110
International Designator
1992-058C
Decay Date
12/10/1996
Name
DELTA 2 R/B(2) [PAM-D]
Alternative Name
Delta 214 Stage 3
Type
Status
Owner
MDAC
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
2.3
Diameter
1.1
Span
2.3
Dry Mass
132
Launch Mass
2141
Shape
Sphere + Cone
Radar Cross Section
3.321
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
Star 48B S/N 10070-18
Purpose
Unknown
Mission
Unknown
Manufacturer
THKE
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Star 48
Configuration
Unknown
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Unknown
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
How the U.S. Navy's Vanguard rocket became a Cold War icon, launched the world's oldest satellite still in orbit, and laid the groundwork for NASA's space exploration efforts.
SpaceX is preparing for significant infrastructure expansion in Texas and Florida to support Starship, launches its third NRO mission in a week, and faces regulatory scrutiny from the Bahamas.
NRO awards three commercial satellite contracts, expanding scope to dynamic military target tracking. Former NASA chief Bridenstine joins Quantum Space for cislunar operations.
China's iSpace secures record $729M for reusable rocket development. SpaceX launches Crew-12 and lands booster at new LZ-40 pad. Startup bets on space-based missile defense.
SpaceX successfully launched 27 Starlink satellites while facing new competition for its satellite programs, including potential alternatives for the Space Force.
Understanding the high and low points of every orbit - from the International Space Station's careful dance with Earth's atmosphere to the extreme ellipses that take satellites to the edge of space and back.
Exciting advancements from SpaceX include the debut of a new Dragon capsule for Axiom Space, continued Starlink deployments, and significant shifts in U.S. rural broadband funding that could benefit Starlink.
A second Starlink satellite has generated on-orbit debris in just over 3 months, threatening SpaceX's 10,151-satellite working constellation.