First U.S Satellite Launched 1958

At Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Army's Jupiter-C rocket is fired launching America's first artificial satellite into space.  The bullet-shaped "Explorer" circles the Earth every 118 minutes, its 30-pound bulk crammed with automated scientific observation gear.

"Explorer" is the U.S. version of the Soviet Union's "Sputnik" and was made possible by a 3-way collaboration between scientists, the military and private industry.

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