31 янв 1958 г. - Explorer 1 launch

Описание:

The Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach space, and it carried instruments designed by James Van Allen and a team of astrophysicists at the University of Iowa. Data collected on this mission led to the discovery of the Van Allen Belts, regions of energetic, charged particles that are trapped in donut-shaped rings around the earth by the planet's magnetic pull. This was the first space-age scientific discovery. The discovery of these belts helped to ensure the safety of the Apollo astronauts, as mission planners were able to find areas in the belts where radiation was thinnest and to send the ship through these areas. Knowledge of the Van Allen Belts continues to inform the paths of satilites such as the Hubble Space Telescope.