Vanguard 1 (Harvard designation: 1958-Beta 2,) (COSPAR ID: 1958-005B), 17 March 1958, is an American satellite that was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to be successfully launched (following Sputnik 1, Sputnik 2, and Explorer 1). Vanguard 1 was the first satellite to have solar electric power. Although communications with the satellite were lost in 1964, it remains the oldest human-made object still in orbit, together with the upper stage of its launch vehicle.