Vanguard SLV-2

Vanguard Satellite SLV-2 Being Examined at Cape Canaveral

Vanguard rocket on LC-18A prior to its launch

Vanguard SLV-2, also called Vanguard Satellite Launch Vehicle 2 hoped to be the second successful flight of the American Vanguard rocket following successful Vanguard 1 satellite on rocket Vanguard TV-4. Vanguard SLV-2 launched on June 26, 1958 05:00 GMT. It was launched from Launch Complex 18A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket was unsuccessful in its attempt to place an unnamed satellite into earth orbit. There was a premature second stage turn off, thus the satellite failed to achieve orbit. The underlying cause of the error is unknown. This was set back in the space race between the USA and Soviet Union.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Vanguard SLV-2 hoped to put in to orbit the Vanguard 2C satellite, a Lyman Alpha satellite, with a magnetosphere measurement device. The satellite payload was 10 kg (22 lb). Vanguard SLV-2 only reached an altitude of 165 km (103 mi), the goal was 3,840 km (2,390 mi) to orbit.^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Comparison of orbital rocket engines
• Project Vanguard
• Spacecraft propulsion

References

1. NASA Vanguard Satellite Launch Vehicle, May 1961
2. NASA, NASA History Vanguard
3. NASA, Aeronautics and Astronautics Chronology, 1958
4. astronautix.com, Vanguard
5. NASA, Vanguard SLV-2
6. astronautix.com, Vanguard
7. Gunter's Space Page, Vanguard SLV-2

Further reading

• Mallove, Eugene F. and Matloff, Gregory L. The Starflight Handbook: A Pioneer's Guide to Interstellar Travel, Wiley. ISBN 0-471-61912-4.