Vanguard 3 was an important part of the Space Race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. It was launched at on 18 September 1959 from the Eastern Test Range of the Atlantic Missile Range at Cape Canaveral into a geocentric orbit. The objectives of the flight were to measure the Earth's magnetic field, the solar X-ray radiation and its effects on the Earth's atmosphere, the near-Earth micrometeoroid environment, and the drag effects and density of the upper atmosphere. Instrumentation included a proton magnetometer, X-ray ionization chambers, radio transmitters, and various micrometeoroid detectors. The data obtained provided a comprehensive survey of the Earth's magnetic field over the area covered, defined the lower edge of the Van Allen radiation belt, and provided a count of micrometeoroid impacts. Vanguard 3 has an expected lifetime of 300 years.
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| Vanguard 3 launch cover with Goldcraft cachet |
(Reference from
Vanguard 3)
