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At approximately 12:48 a.m. EST, the first listening stations began reporting that they had received radio signals from the “Explorer” satellite. The first station to confirm the signals was the San Gabriel Valley Amateur Radio Club near Pasadena, California.  However, ABMA officials were waiting for confirmation from the Goldstone radio tracking station in Earthquake Valley, California.  Finally, 1 hour and 57 minutes after launch the confirmation was finally relayed to ABMA officials in the form of the simple phrase, “Goldstone has the bird!”

Explorer 1 – Jupiter C Launch

On the Pad

Pre-Launch

Explorer 1 Satellite

Van Allen

Pickering

Medaris

Explorer 1 Satellite

Pickering, Van Allen, Von Braun Holding Satellite