Videos

"Those were a rather hectic 84 days, I can assure you that," Wernher von Braun told an interviewer in "The Big Picture," an Army "television report" about the development and launch of Explorer 1. Below is a collection of historic films featuring comments from those at the center of the project and footage from events surrounding launch. In addition, there are new videos produced by NASA centers.

• This 1958 “official television report of the United States Army” recounts the “exciting, suspenseful story” of the days leading up to the launch of Explorer 1, the first “scientific Earth satellite.” Footage includes development of the rocket at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Alabama, building the satellite at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida and, finally, the celebratory press conference in Washington, D.C..

  

  

  The Big Picture: Explorer 1

  The Big Picture: Explorer 1

  This 1958 “official television report of the United States Army” recounts the “exciting, suspenseful story” of the days leading up to the launch of Explorer 1, the first “scientific Earth satellite.” Footage includes development of the rocket at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Alabama, building the satellite at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida and, finally, the celebratory press conference in Washington, D.C.
• This film, produced by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency, recounts the 80 days of development to the launch of Explorer 1. It was shown as part of a JPL exhibit at the Western Space Age Conference in Los Angeles, March 20-22, 1958. JPL quickly assembled the display of photographs, artwork, and full-size models highlighting the successful Explorer 1 satellite and JPL’s earlier work with the Army on propellants, rocket motors, missiles and wind tunnels. Part of the exhibit was later displayed in Washington, D.C. and other venues.

  

  

  X Minus 80 Days

  X Minus 80 Days

  This film, produced by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency, recounts the 80 days of development to the launch of Explorer 1. It was shown as part of a JPL exhibit at the Western Space Age Conference in Los Angeles, March 20-22, 1958. JPL quickly assembled the display of photographs, artwork, and full-size models highlighting the successful Explorer 1 satellite and JPL’s earlier work with the Army on propellants, rocket motors, missiles and wind tunnels. Part of the exhibit was later displayed in Washington, D.C. and other venues.
• Produced by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2007, this short film focuses on the “Space Race” and how the United States responded to the success of Sputnik 1. The film includes interviews with William Pickering, who was director of JPL when Explorer 1 was developed, and other notables. It also includes excerpts from the full-length documentary “Explorer 1: JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age.

  

  

  JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age

  JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age

  Produced by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2007, this short film focuses on the “Space Race” and how the United States responded to the success of Sputnik 1. The film includes interviews with William Pickering, who was director of JPL when Explorer 1 was developed, and other notables. It also includes excerpts from the full-length documentary “Explorer 1: JPL and the Beginnings of the Space Age.
• Posted by NASA History, this short film goes inside the blockhouse on Jan. 31, 1958 as Explorer 1 launched and reached orbit.

  

  

  The Launch of Explorer 1

  The Launch of Explorer 1

  Posted by NASA History, this short film goes inside the blockhouse on Jan. 31, 1958 as Explorer 1 launched and reached orbit.
• The University of Iowa’s H. Clay Harshbarger interviews James Van Allen about satellite orbits, cosmic rays and Explorer 1 science in this March 1958 program. Video courtesy of the University of Iowa Archives.

  

  

  At the Frontier

  At the Frontier

  The University of Iowa’s H. Clay Harshbarger interviews James Van Allen about satellite orbits, cosmic rays and Explorer 1 science in this March 1958 program. Video courtesy of the University of Iowa Archives.
• On Jan. 31 att 10:48 p.m. EST, Explorer 1 launched into space, hurtling into Earth's orbit in seven and a half minutes. The next day's front-page news declared that the United States was now officially in the Space Age. Music: Look Forward by Laurent Dury, The Space Between by Max Concors, Picking Locks by James Alexander Dorman and Foraging At Dusk by Benjamin James Parsons.

  

  

  How America's First Satellite Helped Create NASA

  How America's First Satellite Helped Create NASA

  On Jan. 31 att 10:48 p.m. EST, Explorer 1 launched into space, hurtling into Earth's orbit in seven and a half minutes. The next day's front-page news declared that the United States was now officially in the Space Age.
• On January 31, 1958, the United States joined the "space race" with the successful launch of the Explorer 1 satellite, marking the birth of space science.

  

  

  ScienceCast: America’s Debut in Space

  ScienceCast: America’s Debut in Space

  On January 31, 1958, the United States joined the "space race" with the successful launch of the Explorer 1 satellite, marking the birth of space science.
• As NASA celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Explorer 1, the satellite that blazed the way for hundreds of missions to follow, some of the most ambitions explorations are yet to come.

  

  

  Explorer 1: Celebrating 60 years in Space

  Explorer 1: Celebrating 60 years in Space

  As NASA celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Explorer 1, the satellite that blazed the way for hundreds of missions to follow, some of the most ambitions explorations are yet to come.
• Explorer 1 marked the start of the Space Age for America, and heralded the study of Earth from space. The JPL-built satellite confirmed the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts, the very first space science discovery.

  

  

  Explorer 1 & 60 Years of Space Science

  Explorer 1 & 60 Years of Space Science

  Explorer 1 marked the start of the Space Age for America, and heralded the study of Earth from space. The JPL-built satellite confirmed the existence of the Van Allen radiation belts, the very first space science discovery.
• To mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of Explorer 1 and the discovery of Earth's Radiation Belts, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine hosted a daylong discussion in Washington, D.C. about Earth science and Heliophysics past, present and future. Speakers included NASA's Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator Thomas Zurbuchen and Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich. To watch video from the event, follow this link to the NASEM Vimeo collection.

  

  

  Celebration of Explorer 1 and Earth's Radiation Belts

  Celebration of Explorer 1 and Earth's Radiation Belts

  To mark the 60th anniversary of the launch of Explorer 1 and the discovery of Earth's Radiation Belts, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine hosted a daylong discussion in Washington, D.C. about Earth science and Heliophysics past, present and future. Speakers included NASA's Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator Thomas Zurbuchen and Earth Science Division Director Michael Freilich. To watch video from the event, follow this link to the NASEM Vimeo collection.