Key statistics
Satellite VANGUARD 1 at a glance.
Uptime
24779
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 10.9
Per day
Orbit
MEO
Medium Earth Orbit
Inclination
34.2
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for VANGUARD 1.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: VANGUARD 1
International designator: 1958-002B
Object number (NORAD): 5
Object ID (CCSDS): 5
Country: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (US)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: SMALL
Orbital parameters
Period: 132.604 minutes
Inclination: 34.2483 deg
SMA: 8613.859 km
Apoapsis: 3820.243 km
Periapsis: 651.206 km
RAAN: 59.5324 deg
Eccentricy: 0.18394992
Argument of periapsis: 178.8076 deg
Mean anomaly: 181.7779 deg
Mean motion: 10.85940646 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): -0.00000019 rev/day2
B* drag term: -0.000033478867 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Jan. 17, 2026, 5:49 p.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Jan. 17, 2026, 10:34 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 VANGUARD 1
TLE line 1: 1 00005U 58002B 26017.44028646 -.00000019 00000-0 -33479-4 0 9992
TLE line 2: 2 00005 34.2483 59.5324 1839499 178.8076 181.7779 10.85940646426891
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite VANGUARD 1.
In-orbit conjunctions
A list of the most updated potential collisions computed for object VANGUARD 1.
Associated space launch
Small satellite used to test the Vanguard three-stage launch vehicle.
VANGUARD 1 was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Vanguard | Vanguard’, on board a Vanguard space rocket.
The launch took place on March 17, 1958, 12:15 p.m. from Launch Complex 18A.
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Vanguard | Vanguard
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: March 17, 1958, 12:15 p.m. UTC
Rocket: Vanguard
Launch pad: Launch Complex 18A
Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
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