Key statistics
Satellite VANGUARD 1 at a glance.
Uptime
24636
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 10.9
Per day
Orbit
MEO
Medium Earth Orbit
Inclination
34.3
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: 132.606 minutes
Inclination: 34.2562 deg
SMA: 8613.945 km
Apoapsis: 3823.073 km
Periapsis: 648.547 km
RAAN: 141.0512 deg
Eccentricy: 0.18426668
Argument of periapsis: 253.9336 deg
Mean anomaly: 85.1474 deg
Mean motion: 10.85924434 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): 0.00000003 rev/day2
B* drag term: -0.000021059053 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Aug. 27, 2025, 8:01 p.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Aug. 27, 2025, 9:42 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 VANGUARD 1
TLE line 1: 1 00005U 58002B 25239.40453637 .00000003 00000-0 -21059-4 0 9998
TLE line 2: 2 00005 34.2562 141.0512 1842667 253.9336 85.1474 10.85924434411340
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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