The Vanguard Rocket's Failure

On December 6, 1957, I was seated at the dinning table in Ma Miller’s Boarding House situated on West Clinton Avenue, Huntsville, Alabama, on the current site of the von Braun Civic Center. Mealtime was usually a rather noisy time with many different conversations among the 30-odd men seated at the two large tables, but that day everyone’s attention was on the scene being played out on the small black-and-white television set in the corner of the room.  

The Navy was making its attempt to launch a VANGUARD rocket with the USA’s IGY satellite.  It would not be the first into space but at least the USA could join the Russians in space exploration.  The final countdown continued and at “Zero” we saw the smoke and flame and then the liftoff.  Suddenly the screen was filled with the bright flash of a violent explosion and what was left of  VANGUARD fell back to the launch pad.  

Surprisingly, instead of sighs and moans of despair, a spontaneous cheer of elation arose in the room.  Everyone there realized that the Navy’s failure meant that the local missile team would now get its chance to redeem the honor of the USA.