Vanguard 1, the oldest satellite still in orbit, turns 50 years old today. It is estimated to have made 196,990 revolutions of the earth and traveled 10.5 billion kilometers, about 1.5 times the distance to Pluto.

1 00005U 58002B 08075.92633413 +.00000078 +00000-0 +12198-3 0 02678 2 00005 034.2528 327.4245 1846497 023.9793 343.6731 10.83896434719370

The rocket body is also still in orbit: 1 00016U 58002A 08075.15159796 -.00000019 +00000-0 +12928-7 0 07151 2 00016 034.2550 114.7671 2030531 091.0602 292.1633 10.48034668988929

along with a clamp band: 1 01576U 58002C 08076.47746087 -.00000533 00000-0 -52958-3 0 2479 2 01576 034.2201 158.0956 1478594 146.1608 224.2880 11.61518610 38390

http://www.heavens-above.com/satinfo.aspx?lat=0&lng=0&alt=0&loc=... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_1 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/nrl-vic031308.php http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1241

If you were affiliated with Project Vanguard, please send a note to vanguard2008@yahoo.com

Dan Schultz N8FGV (who is not quite old enough to remember that launch)