# Vanguard 3

> American research satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q632896](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q632896)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vanguard-3

## Summary
Vanguard 3 is an American research satellite and geomagnetic satellite launched on September 18, 1959. It was designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and related regions, making it part of the Vanguard family of satellites.

## Key Facts
- Vanguard 3 was launched on September 18, 1959 at 05:20:07 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18
- It has a mass of 23.7 kilograms for the spacecraft and 42.9 kilograms for the rocket stage
- The satellite has a height of 116.8 centimeters and a diameter of 50.8 centimeters
- Vanguard 3 was manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory and operated by NASA
- It has a COSPAR ID of 1959-007A and experienced a loss of signal on December 11, 1959
- The satellite is powered by silver-zinc batteries and has an orbital period of 129 minutes
- Vanguard 3's orbit had an apoapsis of 3744 kilometers, periapsis of 512 kilometers, inclination of 33.3 degrees, and eccentricity of 0.18987199
- It is also known by the aliases Vanguard 3C, Magne-Ray satellite, Vanguard III, and فانغارد ٣

## FAQs
### Q: What was Vanguard 3's primary purpose?
A: Vanguard 3 was designed as a geomagnetic satellite to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and related regions, providing valuable data about Earth's magnetic field and space environment.

### Q: When and where was Vanguard 3 launched?
A: Vanguard 3 was launched on September 18, 1959 at 05:20:07 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18, aboard a Vanguard SLV-7 rocket.

### Q: How long did Vanguard 3 remain operational?
A: Vanguard 3 experienced a loss of signal on December 11, 1959, meaning it operated for less than three months after its launch on September 18, 1959.

### Q: What are Vanguard 3's physical characteristics?
A: Vanguard 3 has a height of 116.8 centimeters, a diameter of 50.8 centimeters, a mass of 23.7 kilograms for the spacecraft, and 42.9 kilograms for the rocket stage. It is powered by silver-zinc batteries.

## Why It Matters
Vanguard 3 represents an important early milestone in space exploration and satellite technology. As one of the earliest American research satellites, it contributed to the understanding of Earth's magnetosphere, providing valuable data for the emerging field of space science. The satellite's relatively short operational life underscores the technical challenges of the early space age, while its successful launch demonstrated the capabilities of the Vanguard program. Despite its brief operation, Vanguard 3 provided scientific observations that helped researchers understand space phenomena, contributing to the foundation of modern space research and Earth observation technologies that are now fundamental to climate studies and space weather forecasting.

## Notable For
- Being one of the earliest American research satellites focused on geomagnetic measurements
- Having a relatively short operational life of less than three months after launch
- Being part of the Vanguard family of satellites and launch vehicles
- Having an unusual orbit with significant eccentricity (0.18987199) for its time
- Serving as an early example of a satellite specifically designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere

## Body
### Mission Overview
Vanguard 3 was an American research satellite launched on September 18, 1959, designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere and related regions. The satellite was part of the Vanguard family of satellites, which also included launch vehicles sharing the same name. It was launched at 05:20:07 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18 aboard a Vanguard SLV-7 rocket.

### Physical Specifications
The satellite had a height of 116.8 centimeters and a diameter of 50.8 centimeters. It had a mass of 23.7 kilograms for the spacecraft itself and 42.9 kilograms when including the rocket stage. Vanguard 3 was powered by silver-zinc batteries, which provided its electrical power for the onboard instruments and communications systems.

### Orbital Characteristics
Vanguard 3 was placed in an orbit with an apoapsis (highest point) of 3744 kilometers and a periapsis (lowest point) of 512 kilometers, resulting in an orbital period of 129 minutes. The orbit had an inclination of 33.3 degrees to the equator and an eccentricity of 0.18987199. This elliptical orbit allowed the satellite to sample different regions of Earth's magnetosphere.

### Operational History
The satellite experienced a significant operational issue when it lost signal on December 11, 1959, less than three months after its launch. Despite this relatively short operational life, Vanguard 3 completed its primary mission objectives and transmitted valuable data about Earth's magnetic field before its failure.

### Development and Manufacturing
Vanguard 3 was manufactured by the United States Naval Research Laboratory, which played a crucial role in the development of the Vanguard satellite program. The satellite was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) following its establishment in 1958. The development of Vanguard 3 contributed to the broader goals of understanding space environments and developing reliable satellite technologies.

### Alternative Names and Identifiers
Vanguard 3 is also known by several alternative names including Vanguard 3C, Magne-Ray satellite, Vanguard III, and the Arabic name فانغارد ٣. It was assigned the COSPAR ID 1959-007A for tracking and cataloging purposes in international space databases. The satellite was also designated as Harvard 1959 Eta 1 and was assigned the SCN value 00020 in some systems.

## Schema Markup
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  "name": "Vanguard 3",
  "description": "An American research satellite and geomagnetic satellite launched on September 18, 1959, designed to monitor Earth's magnetosphere.",
  "url": "https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-007A",
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/vanguard-20in_mxe.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-007A)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-007A)