MISSION OVERVIEW
Vanguard II is an Earth orbiting satellite and the first weather satellite. It was designed to measure cloud-cover distribution over the daylight portion of its orbit for a period of 19 days and to provide information on the density of the atmosphere.
LAUNCH DETAILS
VEHICLE
VanguardAGENCY
US NavyMISSION
Vanguard II
MISSION TYPE
Earth Science
TARGET ORBIT
Medium Earth Orbit
LAUNCH PAD
Launch Complex 18ALAUNCH SITE
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USACOUNTRY
USA
LAUNCH TIME VERIFICATION
CONFIRMEDPrecision: Minute
LAUNCH LIBRARY 2 PRIMARY
API ID: 597540d3-b6b1-44d8-b6e6-3b799dc6b1e4
Reported date: Feb 17, 1959 at 15:55 UTC
Last synced: 2 hours ago
This launch date and time are confirmed by the launch provider. Countdown is active.
LAUNCH MAP
PAD WEATHER
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VEHICLE — Vanguard →
MANUFACTURER
Lockheed Martin
FLIGHTS
11
SUCCESSES
3
SUCCESS RATE
27.3%
The Vanguard rocket was intended to be the first launch vehicle the United States would use to place a satellite into orbit. Instead, the Sputnik crisis caused by the surprise launch of Sputnik 1 led the U.S., after the failure of Vanguard TV3, to quickly orbit the Explorer 1 satellite using a Juno I rocket, making Vanguard I the second successful U.S. orbital launch.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Vanguard | Vanguard II launch?
The Vanguard | Vanguard II is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 1959 at 3:55 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: SUCCESS.
What rocket is being used for Vanguard II?
The Vanguard | Vanguard II mission uses the Vanguard rocket, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The Vanguard has flown 11 times with a 27.3% success rate.
Where is the Vanguard | Vanguard II launching from?
The launch takes place from Launch Complex 18A at Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.
What orbit is Vanguard II going to?
The Vanguard II mission is targeting Medium Earth Orbit.
Who is launching Vanguard II?
The Vanguard | Vanguard II is operated by US Navy.
Can I watch the Vanguard | Vanguard II launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
LAUNCH TIMELINE
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch date set: Feb 17, 1959 at 15:55 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by US Navy
Mar 28, 2026 20:12 UTC
Launch completed successfully
Updated via Launch Library 2
LIVE DATA SOURCES
Last data sync: 2 hours ago
●Launch Library 22 hours ago
Launch ID: 597540d3-b6b1-44d8-b6e6-3b799dc6b1e4
●Open-Meteo Weather3 hours ago
Pad weather at 28.45, -80.56
