How a Cold War missile lab launched America into the space race
Before NASA existed, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory was building tactical nuclear rockets. This video explores how the lab pivoted from military weaponry to space exploration, culminating in the successful launch of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite and a major scientific milestone.
During the Cold War, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) focused on developing the Corporal and Sergeant tactical nuclear missiles under Caltech's supervision. While JPL and Wernher von Braun’s Army team were prepared to launch a satellite, the Soviet Union reached orbit first with Sputnik in October 1957. Following a failed initial U.S. launch attempt, JPL finally received authorization to proceed.
On January 31, 1958, Explorer 1 successfully reached orbit, marking the United States' entry into the Space Age and delivering the world's first space science discovery. This achievement proved pivotal in defining JPL's future mission as a core component of the newly formed NASA, shifting its focus toward exploring the cosmos.
