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On January
31,1958 America had it's first success with Explorer 1 the pencil shaped
satellite. Explorer 1 like the Russian satellite, it carried instruments
and radio transmitters. Sputnik 1 had been in the shape of a ball with
four antennas sticking out. It rolled as it orbited. Explorer 1's pencil
Shape meant that it had to spin like a bullet to remain in space. The
instruments on Explorer 1 measured cosmic radiation, temperature in
space and micrometeroic hit's. Explorer1 recorded only 7 minor hit's the
first month. Explorer 1 discovered the van Allen radiation belt that circles
earth. |
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Quick
Facts
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| Date
Launched: |
January
31, 1958 |
| Shape: |
pencil-shaped
so it could spin like a bullet. |
| Purpose: |
To
measure cosmic radiation, temperature in space and micrometeroic
hit's. |
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