Members of the media are invited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Explorer 1 launch at 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Air Force Space and Missile Museum on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The successful launch of Explorer 1 on Jan. 31, 1958, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, marked the beginning of U.S. space exploration. The primary science instrument on board was a cosmic ray detector, which led to Explorer principal investigator James Van Allen’s discovery of Earth’s radiation belts, later named the Van Allen belts in his honor. The Air Force Space and Missile Museum is located at the launch site where this pioneering mission began.
Speakers include:
Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, commander, 45th Space Wing
Robert Cabana, director, Kennedy Space Center
John Meisenheimer, Explorer 1 launch weather officer
This event is open to U.S. citizens only. A government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license, is required to participate. In addition, proof of U.S. citizenship also is required, such as a passport or birth certificate. All news media must RSVP for this event no later than noon on Friday, Jan. 26.
All media accreditation requests should be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
For questions about accreditation, please email ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov. For other questions or additional information contact Kennedy’s newsroom at 321-867-2468.
A new NASA website provides extensive historical information about Explorer 1, including archival imagery and videos:
https://explorer1.jpl.nasa.gov
America’s space program continues to build on 60 years of scientific exploration and discovery that followed Explorer 1 with new missions that will expand our view of the universe, our solar system, and our home planet. For more information about NASA programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
