assignment 7 pioneer 1 zachary langdon

On October 11 of 1958, just 75 days after its founding, NASA launched its first probe, Pioneer 1. It was preceded by able-1 (pioneer 0), which exploded upon its launch by the United States Air Force. The program was then transferred to NASA and renamed pioneer. The probe weighted just 34.2 kg. It was intended to photograph the moon in infrared, measure space’s radiation levels, and detect micrometeorites and magnetic fields. However, despite its successful launch, a stage malfunctioned, leaving it without sufficient velocity to reach the moon. Operators attempted to put it instead into a high earth orbit, but the command failed due to low battery temperatures and it burned up after 43 hours in flight. It managed to take readings on the extent of the Van Allen belts and the concentration micrometeorites around earth. It was this failed inaugural NASA mission which preceded the agency’s execution of the greatest achievements of humankind. For the most significant agency of recent human history to begin with such an anecdote allows for grand optimistic extrapolations and symbolism for humanity. It highlights the capacity for both human ambition and determination. This occurrence, in hindsight, allows for one to hold optimism when facing discouraging begins.