Vanguard 1, the Oldest Human-Made Satellite in Orbit, May Be Retrieved After 67 Years

The Vanguard 1 was one of the first satellites that shaped the global space race between the US and competing regions worldwide. This satellite was the second successful launch of its kind into space by the US and has been in orbit for the past 67 years, but now there are plans to return it to Earth.

Vanguard 1 Prepares To Return Home

The space race between the US and USSR has been ongoing for years. On 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched the Sputnik 1 satellite into Earth’s orbit, beating the US to a successful satellite launch.

Later that year, the US Navy attempted to launch Vanguard 1 into space but the launch attempt failed.

This failure didn’t mar the US’ determination to launch a satellite into space, just like its competition, the Soviet Union. On 31 January 1958, the US Army successfully launched the Explorer 1 satellite into Earth orbit, setting it on track for the space race between itself and the Soviet Union.

On 17 March 1958, it reached Earth orbit as the US’s second satellite. Unlike its sibling, the Explorer 1 satellite that was in use for just four months and reentered Earth’s atmosphere two years later, the Vanguard 1’s lifespan is one worthy of consideration.

The US Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) last contact with this satellite was in 1964. However, the satellite has been in orbit for over 67 years, making it the oldest orbiting satellite of any country in the world.

Plans to retrieve this satellite from space are underway, with research analysts from Booz Allen Hamilton in Colorado Springs leading the way. But why are researchers expressing interest in retrieving this old satellite from space?

What Can We Glean From The World’s Oldest Satellite, The Vanguard 1?

Some experts are now looking into ways to retrieve the Vanguard 1 satellite from orbit in space. While this plan will not be easy, it is one that is worth trying, as there might be a lot to learn from it.

Speaking on the satellite, Matt Bille, a Booz Allen aerospace research analyst, says that it is a silent satellite since “the output of the solar cells dropped below the power needed to run the transmitter.” However, it isn’t difficult to pinpoint the satellite’s location using its onboard sensors.

Bill goes on to identify some things that researchers can glean from the world’s oldest satellite after retrieving it from space. Some of the things he points out are the “solar cells, batteries, and metals, along with the record of micrometeorite or debris strikes over such a long time.”
This satellite might be retrieved by placing it in a lower orbit where it can be easily accessed. Another option for retrieval will be to send it to the ISS and then to Earth. Whichever method of retrieval is used, the Vanguard 1 satellite will need to be handled with extreme care.