Pioneer 3 was a spin-stabilized spacecraft intended as a lunar probe but failed to perform a lunar flyby as planned. Its mission was revised to measure radiation in the outer Van Allen radiation belts.
Launch Overview
Window Open
05:44 UTC
Window Close
05:44 UTC
Lift Off
Dec 6, 1958 · 05:44 UTC
Launch Facility
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 5
Target Orbit
Lunar flyby
Payload Overview
Customer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Pioneer 3 was a spin-stabilized spacecraft intended as a lunar probe but failed to perform a lunar flyby as planned. Its mission was revised to measure radiation in the outer Van Allen radiation belts.
Height
LEO Payload
Total Launches
Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Launch Complex 5
Launch Overview
Window Open
05:44 UTC
Window Close
05:44 UTC
Lift Off
Dec 6, 1958 · 05:44 UTC
Launch Facility
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Launch Pad
Launch Complex 5
Target Orbit
Lunar flyby
Payload Overview
Customer
National Aeronautics and Space Administration