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Metal spring attested as used during the launch of Explorer 1, the first successful U.S. satellite, launched on January 31, 1958, aboard a Jupiter-C rocket. The spring measures 7˝ in length and is affixed to a mounted presentation sheet, which reads: “The attached spring was part of the rod and spring used to eject the plug, umbilical cord and boom from the Jupiter C booster at 10:48 EST on 31 January 1958, during the first successful launch of an American satellite, Explorer 1. The umbilical cord was used to provide an emergency cutoff in the event the booster rose slightly but had insufficient thrust to lift off. Explorer 1 was designed and built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) under the direction of Dr William Pickering. The instrumentation contained within the satellite was designed by Dr James van Allen of the University of lowa and comprised a Geiger counter that measures charged particles. The use of this instrumentation during the mission led to the discovery of the radiation belts around the earth later named after Dr. Van Allen.” In fine condition.
