In orbitRocket body

VANGUARD R/B

NORAD: 16
COSPAR: 1958-002A

OrbitalWiki publishes live orbits for active satellites only. This object is in the full catalogue: who launched it, what it is and its last published orbit are below, but there are no current orbital elements for it here.

Spacecraft

Built by: Grand Central Rocket, Redlands
Owner: Naval Research Lab
Platform (bus): 33-KS-2800
Mass at launch: 195 kg
Dry mass: 22 kg
Total mass with attached parts: 22 kg
Length: 1.5 m
Diameter: 0.7 m
Span with arrays and booms: 1.5 m
Shape: Cyl

From GCAT by Jonathan McDowell (CC BY 4.0), record S00016, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Launch

Launch date: 1958-03-17
Rocket: Vanguard
Flight: Vanguard I
Mission name: Vanguard Test Satellite
Launch site: CC, LC18A
Launched by: Naval Research Lab
Rocket performance: Success
Launch designator: 1958 BET

From the GCAT launch log, launch 1958 BET, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Catalogue record

Object type: Rocket body
Owner code: US
Launch date: 1958-03-17
Period: 137.2 min
Inclination: 34.26°
Apogee: 4,211 km
Perigee: 655 km
Radar cross-section: 0.2282 m²

From CelesTrak SATCAT, checked 2026-11-05. About this source

Where it came from

Catalogued pieces that came from it: 1

Everything from this launch

Debris2 in total, 2 still in orbit
Payload1 in total, 1 still in orbit
Rocket body1 in total, 1 still in orbit