Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
American History
Related: About this forumOn this day, December 6, 1957, America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed.
In 1957, Americas first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad before crashing down and exploding,
richmond.com
Today in history: Dec. 6
In 1957, Americas first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad
Today in history: Dec. 6
In 1957, Americas first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad
Link to tweet
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1600105539874308103/qIDFUrFi.jpg)
Tue Dec 6, 2022: Dec. 6, 1957: America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 ...
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
![](/du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)
On this day, December 6, 1957, America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed. (Original Post)
mahatmakanejeeves
Dec 2023
OP
edbermac
(16,137 posts)1. Kaputnik
?si=F3TIcHDRRMdvq7JO
Hokie
(4,332 posts)2. I was a young tyke at the time but I recall seeing it on TV
I recall my Dad saying that we were failing because for some reason Ike wanted the Navy and Vanguard to launch the first satellite. After the embarrassing failures of Vanguard the government turned to Dr. Werner von Braun and the US Army Redstone Arsenal team. They eventually successfully launched Explorer 1 in late January of 1958. The rest as they say is history.
doc03
(37,318 posts)3. Those were scary times, the USSR launcehed Sputnik and we
couldn't even get off the ground. Then came JFK with his vision of landing on the moon before 1970
and we did it.