Pioneer 1 was an American space probe, the first under the auspices of NASA, which was launched by a Thor-Able rocket on 11 October 1958. It was intended to orbit the Moon and make scientific measurements, but due to a guidance error failed to achieve lunar orbit and was ultimately destroyed upon reentering Earth's atmosphere. The flight, which lasted 43 hours and reached an apogee of 113,800 km, was the second and most successful of the three Thor-Able space probes.
The Pioneer 1 atop its launcher.
Reconstructed replica of Pioneer 1
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960.
Thor-Able on display at the Air Force Space & Missile Museum
Thor-Able 130 with Pioneer 1 (10 October 1958)
Thor-Able 134 with Explorer 6 (7 August 1959)
Thor-Able 148 with Tiros-1 (1 April 1960)