Sputnik’s success indicated just how far behind the U.S. had fallen, spurring them on to make several varied attempts to gain space dominance.
Early Failures
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Vanguard's First Attempt
- Courtesy of the Smithsonian
After beating out all other satellite programs, the Navy's Vanguard proved to be a major bust and failed to launch before Sputnik. Rushed by the success of Sputnik, Vanguard was unprepared for the task of launching a satellite, and its first attempt blew up on the launch pad. Despite its first outing being deemed a "Flopnik" and "Kaputnik", Vanguard did manage to successfully complete one mission before Sputnik's first anniversary. However, it only did so with seven failed attempts. It appeared the shock of Sputnik did more harm than good.
"Kaputnik - Daily Express
Stay-Putnik - News Chronicle
Puffnik-Daily Mail
Phutnik-Daily Mirror and Daily Sketch"
-Vanguard's nicknames from the New York Times on December 8, 1957
Success!
"...General Medaris' public relations officer hurried into the room. 'General,' he said...'it has just been announced over the radio that the Russians have put up a successful satellite! ...' There was a momentary silence. Then von Braun burst into speech. Medaris quotes the famous rocket scientist as exclaiming, 'We knew they were going to do it. Vanguard will never make it. We have the hardware on the shelf. For God's sake turn us loose and let us do something. We can put up a satellite in sixty days, Mr. McElroy! Just give us a green light and sixty days.'" - from "From Sputnik I to TV-3"
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Explorer 1 (Backup) - Courtesy of the Smithsonian
After Sputnik's launch, the White House maintained the satellite program would not be sped up. However, America's second satellite program, Explorer, was quickly approved. Up until this point, Vanguard was the sole program, much to the discontent of the Army, the Air Force, and those involved with Project Orbiter. Wernher von Braun and the Army used a modified Jupiter C rocket to launch Explorer 1 into orbit on its first attempt. Despite two failures, three total Explorers made it into orbit before Sputnik's first anniversary: I, III, and IV. Unlike Vanguard, Sputnik positively impacted the Explorer program by helping it get approved.