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Jupiter-C (RS-27)
A "stealth" satellite launch attempt.
Mission Overview
A three-stage version of the Redstone rocket. It reached an altitude of 1,100 km and a distance of 5,300 km. It could have launched a satellite, but the upper stage was intentionally weighted with sand.
Learning from History
"If the US government had authorized it, this rocket could have put a satellite in orbit a full year before Sputnik 1."
Mission Specs
| Year | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Type | Test Rocket |
| Destination | Sub-orbital |
| Status | Success |
| Rocket | Redstone |