Immediately within the historical past of astronomy, the world’s first meteorological satellite tv for pc takes flight.
The flight backup for Vanguard 2 hangs within the atrium of a constructing at Goddard Area Flight Heart. Credit score: NASA
A pioneer of Earth commentary from house, the Vanguard 2 satellite tv for pc launched Feb. 17, 1959. The satellite tv for pc was the world’s first supposed for meteorological commentary, and adopted on a sequence of check autos and failed satellite tv for pc launches within the Vanguard program. The one beforehand profitable Vanguard satellite tv for pc, Vanguard 1, had launched a 12 months earlier.
Vanguard 2 was supposed to measure international cloud cowl, and carried two photocells to scan Earth because it orbited the planet. Sadly, although the satellite tv for pc achieved a profitable orbit, residual propellant within the rocket prompted a “wobble,” which made its information unusable. Nevertheless, Vanguard 2’s profitable sensor system and the dear flight expertise it offered laid the groundwork for future missions. It remains in orbit, and is anticipated to remain there for about 200 years.
