Explorer 1 in orbit, artwork

Explorer 1 in orbit, artwork

C011/1210 Rights Managed

Request low-res file

530 pixels on longest edge, unwatermarked

Request/Download high-res file

Uncompressed file size: 32.6MB

Downloadable file size: 2.1MB

Price image Pricing

Please login to use the price calculator


Caption: Explorer 1 in orbit. Computer artwork of America's first successful artificial satellite, Explorer 1, in orbit over Earth. Explorer 1 was launched on 31 January 1958, after the USSR took the USA by surprise by launching the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, on 4 October 1957. The satellite measured 2.05 metres in length and weighed 14 kilograms. It orbited Earth at heights of between 360 kilometres and 2520 kilometres until 31 March 1970. It carried, amongst other instruments, a geiger counter, used to detect cosmic rays. Data collected by the satellite led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt, a torus of charged particles held in place by the Earth's magnetic field.


Keywords: 1900s, 1950s, 1958, 20th century, 31 january 1958, 31st, american, artificial satellite, artwork, cosmic ray research, earth orbit, equipment, explorer 1, historical, history, illustration, international geophysical year, jet propulsion laboratory, jpl, nasa, north american, orbiting, rocket, satellite 1958 alpha, solar system, space, space flight, space race, spaceflight, technological, technology, united states, us, van allen radiation belt
