# Pioneer 0

> U.S. space probe destroyed due to a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q662498](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q662498)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_0)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pioneer-0

## Summary  
Pioneer 0 was the first U.S. space probe launched as part of the Pioneer program, intended to explore the Moon. It was destroyed 73.6 seconds after liftoff on August 17, 1958, due to a launch failure. The probe was operated by the United States Air Force and had a launch mass of 38 kilograms.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** August 17, 1958, at 12:18 UTC  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor Able I  
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17  
- **Mass:** 38 kilograms (launch weight)  
- **Operator:** United States Air Force  
- **Manufacturer:** TRW Inc.  
- **Mission Duration:** 73.6 seconds (ended due to launch failure)  
- **Followed By:** Pioneer 1  
- **Country of Origin:** United States  
- **Cause of Destruction:** Launch failure  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Pioneer 0's mission?  
A: Pioneer 0 was designed to be the first U.S. lunar probe, aiming to study the Moon and its environment. However, it failed to achieve orbit due to a launch malfunction.  

### Q: Why did Pioneer 0 fail?  
A: The probe was destroyed 73.6 seconds after launch when the Thor Able I rocket's first stage exploded, resulting in a complete mission failure.  

### Q: Who built Pioneer 0?  
A: The probe was manufactured by TRW Inc. and operated by the United States Air Force as part of the Pioneer program.  

## Why It Matters  
Pioneer 0 marked the United States' first attempt to reach the Moon, representing an early milestone in space exploration during the Cold War-era space race. Although it failed, the mission provided valuable engineering insights that influenced subsequent lunar probes, such as Pioneer 1. The probe's brief flight underscored the challenges of spaceflight and highlighted the need for improved launch vehicle reliability. As part of the broader Pioneer program, Pioneer 0 laid groundwork for future missions that would advance scientific understanding of the Moon and deep space.  

## Notable For  
- **First U.S. Lunar Probe Attempt:** Pioneer 0 was America's first effort to send a spacecraft to the Moon.  
- **Early Space Race Milestone:** Launched during the competitive early years of space exploration.  
- **Shortest Mission Duration:** Operated for only 73.6 seconds before destruction.  
- **Part of Pioneer Program:** Paved the way for subsequent Pioneer missions.  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Pioneer 0 was intended to orbit the Moon and conduct scientific measurements. It carried instruments to study cosmic radiation and micrometeoroids, but the mission ended prematurely due to a launch failure.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass:** 38 kg (launch weight)  
- **Apoapsis:** Planned altitude of 16 kilometers (never achieved)  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Thor Able I (serial number 127)  

### Launch and Failure  
- **Launch Time:** August 17, 1958, at 12:18 UTC  
- **Failure Cause:** First-stage explosion at T+73.6 seconds  
- **Outcome:** Total loss of spacecraft and payload  

### Legacy  
Despite its failure, Pioneer 0 contributed to the development of later lunar missions. Its successor, Pioneer 1, launched shortly afterward but also fell short of lunar orbit due to guidance issues.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [1958 NASA/USAF Space Probe (ABLE-1) Final Report: Volume 2. Payload and Experimentsen](http://www.sdfo.org/stl/1958%20NASA%20USAF%20Space%20Probes%20%28ABLE-1%29%20FINAL%20REPORT%20Volume%2002.pdf)