 | ||
Vanguard SLV-3, also called Vanguard Satellite Launch Vehicle 3 hoped to be the second successful flight of the American Vanguard rocket following successful Vanguard 1 satellite on rocket Vanguard TV-4. Vanguard SLV-3 launched on September 26, 1958 at 15:38 GMT. It was launched from Launch Complex 18A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket was unsuccessful in its attempt to place an unnamed satellite into earth orbit. There was a not enough second stage thrust, thus the satellite failed to achieve orbit. The underlying cause of the error is unknown. This was set back in the space race between the USA and Soviet Union.
Vanguard SLV-3 hoped to put in to orbit the Vanguard 2D satellite, a Lyman Alpha satellite, with a magnetosphere measurement device. The satellite payload was 10 kg (22 lb). Vanguard SLV-3 only reached an altitude of 426 km (265 mi), the goal was 3,840 km (2,390 mi) to orbit.