In 1958, NASA launched Able 2, later known as Pioneer 1, on a mission to study the Moon. The spacecraft failed to reach lunar orbit after a Thor second-stage shutdown reduced its speed. A problem linked to an accelerometer setting caused the shutdown. The probe still gathered data about Earths environment before returning to Earth.

In 1958, US Air Force launched an Able 1 spacecraft to the Moon in humanitys first attempt to send a spaceship anywhere beyond Earth orbit. The spacecraft was designed to enter…

In 1958, NASA launched Able 2, later known as Pioneer 1, on a mission to study the Moon. The spacecraft failed to reach lunar orbit after a Thor second-stage shutdown reduced its…