Vanguard 1 Satellite: Happy 50th Birthday!
One of the world's first orbiting satellites
The oldest surviving satellite turned 50 years old Monday. It's traveled more than 6 billion miles over the years, it's only as big as a grapefruit, it's solar-powered, and it has played a central role in studying the Earth since its launch in 1958. Should it stay in orbit for sentimental or teaching reasons, or should it be retrieved and installed in a museum?
Read the full report on MSNBC: "Satellite turns 50 years old...in orbit!"