Nearly 60 years ago, the US Navy launched Vanguard-1 as a response to the Soviet Sputnik. Six decades on, it’s still circling our planet. From his desk at the European Space Operations Centre in ...

An emotional rescue for America came via the first U.S. artificial satellite. Explorer 1 was boosted into space by the Army on Jan. 31, 1958. Nevertheless, despite setbacks, Vanguard 1 did reach ...

where the satellite is now on display. Vanguard's unsuccessful liftoff "was a blow to United States pride and prestige," reported the Christian Science Monitor. Time magazine quipped that Project ...