Exoplanet Stats

[Helio]

There will never be a step improvement any greater then the second Vanguard back in 1957, when we avenged the failure of Vanguard I and finally put something into orbit. I was 5 years old and remember the fear in the adults because the Soviets had bested us. and then the overwhelming relief when we made it.

I was just 4 but I do recall, a few year later, the ongoing tension caused by Sputnik. I think I looked up one night hoping to see Sputnik, which had caused all the fuss. [They didn't mention it wasn't still up there. ]

The Moon landing I would still rate higher, likely because the Sputnik tension was not the latest and greatest threat from the Soviets.

Hopefully a Mars landing will come when there are very little world tensions. Wishful thinking, I suppose.

 

[billslugg]

Actually:
Sputnik went up 4 Oct 57
The dramatic US failure was Vanguard TV3 on 3 Nov 57.
Our first successful orbiter was Explorer 1 on 1 Feb 58
Vanguard 1 was 17 Mar 58
Vanguard 2 on 17 Feb 59