While most technology becomes obsolete within years, one American satellite has been circling Earth since the Eisenhower administration—and shows no signs of stopping. Vanguard 1, launched on March 17, 1958, holds the record as the oldest human-made object still in space. This grapefruit-sized pioneer, originally designed to test satellite launch capabilities, has outlasted thousands of newer satellites, becoming an accidental monument to early space exploration.
The satellite’s longevity is due to its high orbit. Unlike low-Earth orbit satellites that burn up within decades due to atmospheric drag, Vanguard 1 cruises at an altitude of about 2,000 kilometers, where air resistance is negligible. Engineers never expected it to last this long—its official mission ended after just six years when its solar-powered transmitters failed in 1964. Yet its polished aluminum shell and six antennae continue silently looping the planet every 132 minutes, completing over 260,000 orbits to date.
Vanguard 1’s launch was a redemption story. After the Soviet Union’s Sputnik successes embarrassed the U.S., this 1.5-kilogram satellite (nicknamed “the grapefruit” by skeptics) became America’s second successful orbital launch. Though tiny compared to Sputnik, its solar cells were revolutionary, proving satellites could operate long-term without battery depletion.
Today, the inactive satellite is tracked by space surveillance networks. It’s expected to remain aloft for at least another 200 years before its orbit decays—a timespan that would make its original engineers laugh in disbelief. Occasionally, amateur astronomers still spot it as a faint, fast-moving dot among the stars.
So next time you upgrade your smartphone, remember Vanguard 1—a piece of 1950s tech still “working” flawlessly in the ultimate office: the vacuum of space. It may not tweet or take selfies, but as Earth’s oldest artificial moon, it’s earned its retirement cruise among the stars. Just don’t expect it to come home for maintenance—this grandpa of orbit is staying put.
