Explorer 1: America's First Satellite Launched
On January 31, 1958, the United States launched its first artificial satellite, Explorer 1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This launch marked a pivotal moment in the Space Race, following the Soviet Union's Sputniks. Explorer 1 carried a cosmic ray detector, which led to the significant discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts surrounding Earth, revolutionizing our understanding of space environments. The satellite transmitted data for almost four months and remained in orbit for 12 years.
Source: gemini