Timeline of first Earth observation satellites explained

The timeline of first Earth observation satellites shows, in chronological order, those successful Earth observation satellites, that is, Earth satellites with a program of Earth science. Sputnik 1, while the first satellite ever launched, did not conduct Earth science. Explorer 1 was the first satellite to make an Earth science discovery when it found the Van Allen belts.

1950s

Satellite	Country	Date	Organization	Notes
		3 November 1957^[1]	Korolev Design Bureau	Researched charged particles near Earth
		1 February 1958	U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency	Decayed 31 May 1970. Discovered Van Allen belts.
		5 March 1958	U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency	Failed to orbit.
		17 March 1958	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Oldest artificial satellite in orbit, along with its upper stage.
		26 March 1958	U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency	Decayed 28 June 1958.
		29 April 1958	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Failed to orbit.
		15 May 1958	Korolev Design Bureau	Decayed 6 April 1960.
		28 May 1958	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Failed to orbit.
		26 June 1958	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Failed to orbit.
		26 July 1958	U.S. DARPA	Measured electrons & protons in radiation belts. Also measured data on Operation Argus nuclear explosions.
		24 August 1958	U.S. DARPA	Failed to orbit.
		26 September 1958	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Failed to orbit.
		23 October 1958	NASA/U.S. Army	Failed to orbit.
		17 February 1959	NASA/U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Still in orbit.
		14 April 1959	NASA	Failed to orbit.
		22 June 1959	NASA	Failed to orbit.
		16 July 1959	NASA	Failed to orbit.
		7 August 1959	Jet Propulsion Laboratory	Decayed 1 July 1961.
		15 August 1959	NASA/U.S. Navy	Failed to orbit.
		18 September 1959	U.S. Naval Research Laboratory	Still in orbit.
		13 October 1959	NASA	Still in orbit.

1960s

Satellite	Country	Date	Organization	Notes
		3 November 1960	Jet Propulsion Laboratory	Ionospheric studies; decayed from orbit on 28 March 2012.
		16 February 1961	Langley Research Center (NASA)	Thermosphere and exosphere studies; decayed from orbit on 9 April 1964.
		25 February 1961
		25 March 1961	NASA	Magnetic field and plasma studies; decayed from orbit on June 1, 1968.
		27 April 1961	NASA	Gamma ray detection
		16 August 1961	NASA	Solar wind, cosmic ray and magnetic field studies
		25 August 1961
		24 April 1962		Decayed from orbit on 17 October 1962.
		26 April 1962		Ionospheric studies; decayed from orbit on 24 May 1976.
		28 May 1962
		18 August 1968		Micrometeoroid detection; discovered meteoroid flux
		29 September 1962	DRDC	Ionospheric studies
		29 September 1962
		2 October 1962	NASA	Particle and field detection
		27 October 1962	NASA
		16 December 1962

See also

• List of Earth observation satellites

References

• Claude LaFleur's The Spacecraft Encyclopedia
• Encyclopedia Astronautica

Notes and References

1. Web site: NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details . 2023-07-17 . nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov.