Vanguard Program - All Launches and Failures, First US Satellites, Historical Footage, AI upscale

Documentary-style compilation of all the launches in the Vanguard program, entirely based on historical narration and footage. Covers early Viking development flights (TV0 to TV1) and all twelve Vanguard flights (TV2 to SLV-7), from 1957 to 1959.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Vanguard TV0 (Viking 13)
01:25 Vanguard TV1 (Viking 14)
02:46 Vanguard TV2
03:48 Vanguard TV3 "Kaputnik"
05:12 Vanguard TV-3 Backup
06:19 Vanguard TV-4 (Vanguard 1 satellite)
07:44 Vanguard TV-5, SLV-1, SLV-2 & SLV-3
08:06 Vanguard SLV-4 (Vanguard 2 satellite)
09:16 Vanguard SLV-5 & SLV-6
09:37 Vanguard SLV-7 (Vanguard 3 satellite)

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The footage was AI upscaled (Topaz AI) on some segments, besides the usual color correction. Ambient audio was recreated based on historical elements.
Sequences are shown in proper mission context as much as possible.

Historical narration is used in an attempt to capture the feeling of the times. Language and attitudes should be seen in that context.

Research, cleanup, editing, and processing by Retro Space HD.

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Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Navy Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), which intended to launch the first artificial satellite into low Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Florida.

In response to the launch of Sputnik 1 on 4 October 1957, the U.S. restarted the Explorer program, which had been proposed earlier by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA). Privately, however, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and President Dwight D. Eisenhower were aware of progress being made by the Soviets on Sputnik from secret spy plane imagery. Together with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), ABMA built Explorer 1 and launched it on 1 February 1958 (UTC). Before work was completed, however, the Soviet Union launched a second satellite, Sputnik 2, on 3 November 1957. Meanwhile, the spectacular televised failure of Vanguard TV3 on 6 December 1957, deepened American dismay over the country's position in the Space Race.

On 17 March 1958, Vanguard 1 became the second artificial satellite successfully placed in a low Earth orbit by the United States. It was the first solar-powered satellite. Just 15.2 cm (6.0 in) in diameter and weighing 1.4 kg (3.1 lb), Vanguard 1 was described by then-Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev as, "The grapefruit satellite". Vanguard 1, and the upper stage of its launch vehicle, are the oldest artificial satellites still in space, as Vanguard's predecessors, Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1, have decayed from orbit.
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Asbjørn
Bathypterois
Drew Granston
Elpacholag
Francis Bernier
Gary Smith
Gio Pagliari
Glenn W. Hussey
Jackson Johnson
Jan Strzelecki
Jeff Pleimling
Jules E
Kevin Spencer
Martin J Lollar
Michael Pennington
Nathan Koga
Noah Soderquist
Popio
Rick Durr
Ryan Hardy
Scott Manley

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#vanguard #satellite #rocket

[andrewketchum]

Fun fact. The satellite from TV3 "Kaputnik", was blown clear of the blast and recovered. You can see it on display at the National Air and Space Museum.

[rEdf]

I always thought that Vanguard Kaputnic launch 4:46 was the most beautiful, most colorful fireball of rocket destruction.

[PapiDoesIt]

I love how they just plopped satellites onto the rocket by hand. No clean room, no special suits, no static discharge systems in place, just toss it on there like a cantaloupe in a grocery cart.

[heavybreath]

Vanguard 1 is still in orbit, launched on St Patricks Day 1958 The Satellite continued to transmit for 6 years as was powered by early solar cells

[nolancain]

This thing was bound to have problems but it paved the way for modern rocketry including the beginning of the illustrious Able stage.

[PBeringer]

After seeing this, I feel like the Vanguard Program gets unfairly derided in almost every retelling of the early US space program. It's always set in contrast to von Braun/JPL and Explorer 1 as being a total failure, even a joke. Even with a healthy interest in the history of spaceflight, it was only upon seeing this video that I learned Vanguard successfully launched several satellites. I guess I never looked into Vanguard because it was always presented in a way that didn't foster the necessary curiosity. Ya learn somethin' new every day.

[tedsmith]

I'm amused by the apparent idea that staring intently at a tape recorder (2:20) will give you a better understanding of what you are hearing.

[grizz]

The Vanguard 1 satellite reached orbit 4 day before I was born. She is the oldest manmade object in space. She is my guardian angel.

[garyfan]

I'm sure the cigarette smoke at 2:00 did no favors to that recording. 🤣

[cowboybob]

I had to skip back to 0:36 when I saw a guy with a cigarette.

[eddiekulp]

Vanguard could launch grapefruit size satellites, rocket you could allmost wrap your arms around. Russians launching a ton to orbit about the same time on massive ICBM

[barrelmitt]

This is the best. Truly human rated flight made our ICBM fleet the tool that it is.
Elon musk and SpaceX should thank +70 years worth of research.

[Cby]

Is it just me, or does the Vanguard also "bwoop" on startup like the Titan?